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Premier Denis Napthine said that the Victorian Coalition is established to follow Tony Abbott's lead and discontinue taking political contributions from the tobacco industry, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said this week in an interview to Fairfax Media that if re-elected Labor would prohibit tobacco companies to donate money to political parties and candidates. In his turn, Mr Abbott said that because of the criticism in recent times, Liberal Party would no longer take tobacco company donations. Victorian Labor says that since 2004, when Labor stopped to take tobacco donations, the Liberal Party got $237,340, Victorian Coalition had got $272,410 and the Victorian Nationals $35,070. During his speech near Bendigo on Friday morning Dr Napthine said the issue would be a matter for the party. This is where he along with Opposition Senate Leader Eric Abetz guarantee an $86 million upgrade of the Calder Highway interchange at Ravenswood if the Coalition won office. Dr Napthine said that people should not smoke bacause it is not good for health. Tony Abbott has made a decision on donations and the state Liberals will follow the same line. Earlier Treasurer Michael O'Brien also suggested to end this practice. Mr O'Brien said that there is a point where we need to move on from this sort of thing. It is a matter for the party and he will give his advice to the party if they ask for it, but he thinks they are moving on from those sort of matters. The Treasurer suggests that the controversial paid parental leave scheme proposed by Mr Abbott would not hurt Victoria. He said that the advice they have had from Mr Abbott is that there will be no obligation for the state government to contribute towards the paid parental scheme. They have had assurance from Mr Abbott's office that the federal proposals will not impact on them, in terms of there will be no additional money required from state governments.
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