Vegemite brewed into beer in remote communities: minister
Australian favourite Vegemite is being removed from shelves in remote Aboriginal communities because it is reportedly being used to brew alcohol.
The Abbott government is insisting that several dry communities in the Top End remove the iconic spread from shops to stop it becoming what Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion described as "precursor to misery".
The yeast-based product is reportedly being made into alcoholic drinks in large quantities, News Corp reports, leading to increases in drunken violence and child neglect.
Senator Scullion said that in some remote communities children were going on benders and waking up too hungover to attend school.
Rather than ban the product outright, the Abbott government is insisting businesses mediate or restrict the sale to avoid the government introducing a legislative fix.
The Country Liberal senator said he was tired of hearing about "people's rights" and wanted people to consider the affect upon women and children in remote communities.
“Wouldn’t it be terrible to ban Vegemite? Well it’s a precursor to misery in (some) communities,” he said.
“We are in discussions with many communities, particularly in terms of community-owned stores, not only about healthy products, but about products that are used as precursors to the production of alcohol.’’
The sale of alcohol is restricted or banned in 19 communities across Queensland Senator Scullion did not single out specific townships where Vegemite was being brewed into alcoholic.
'''Hugh Jackman teaches Jimmy Fallon how to eat Vegemite - the right way!
Americans accidentally down vodka after eating Vegemite'''
