Health Minister Nicola Roxon is under fire for soliciting Philip Morris to attend a campaign fundraiser six years ago, contrary to a ban on tobacco industry contributions by her Labor Party.

Liberal Party health spokesman Peter Dutton accused Roxon of acting like “an absolute hypocrite,” The Australian reported in a story citing an Australian television interview.
Roxon in a statement yesterday accused the tobacco industry of using the letters to discredit her and derail government plans to mandate plain packaging for cigarettes. “I will continue to champion a policy that will save Australian lives and I will not let Big Tobacco stand in my way,” she said.
Roxon admitted sending invitations to a fundraising dinner to three PM representatives after the Labor ban. Roxon said the invitations were sent in error, and that she did not receive tobacco donations. (pi)