It's no syrah to Abbott on drop for Block rock

Instead they were offered a signed bottle of wine.

It was an odd contribution given that the Rock the Block festival on May 5 is alcohol-free and that alcohol abuse is a scourge in Aboriginal communities, the organisers said yesterday.

"We don't believe it is appropriate for the Minister for Health to send alcohol to an Aboriginal community. We believe it sends the wrong message, especially seeing that Rock the Block is a dry, family-orientated event," said Mick Mundine, chief executive of the Aboriginal Housing Company. "They just don't think."

The festival organiser, Joel Beasant, sent a fax to Mr Abbott's Sydney electorate office asking for "modest donations to support equipment hire and promotion for the event and/or confirmation that you can attend".

On Wednesday, a telephone call came from a staffer at Mr Abbott's office in Manly offering a signed bottle of wine for auction.

Not being a drinker, Mr Beasant said he could not recall what sort of wine it was. "But the way they described it, it sounded like a nice bottle," he said yesterday.

He reported the offer to the housing company, which said a money donation of equivalent value might be more helpful.

Mr Abbott's spokeswoman did not know the vintage or the label either yesterday. She said it was an event worthy of support but that it was unfortunate that organisers have sought to embarrass Mr Abbott and the office in this way. She said there had been nothing to suggest it was a dry event.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-no-syrah-to-abbott-on-drop-for-block-rock/2007/04/05/1175366414261.html