IF AJP readers need any proof that 2007 is an election year and will feature numerous wild claims in the media, you need look no further than the 12 February issue ofcrikey.com. The notorious online media service thrust the issues of pharmacy ownership and supermarket pharmacies back onto centre stage with the rumour that Woolworths Ltd and the Federal ALP had a very strong understanding that, should Labor win this year's election, Woolies would get the go-ahead to own pharmacies.Naturally the Guild immediately contacted people within the Labor Party to clarify the issue and scheduled a meeting with the Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, soon after. I am happy to report that Ms Roxon gave the Guild an 'absolute assurance' that there was no substance to the rumour. She said there was no such deal in place and that Labor 'had no intention whatsoever' of making an agreement like it.
展开▼
