AAP July 13, 2011 12:10PM
PM tours shops selling carbon plan
PM cops protester's wrath at shops
Carbon fear: We think we'll be worse off
A FIERY slanging match between shoppers outside a Brisbane supermarket has overrun Prime Minister Julia Gillard's campaign to sell her government's carbon tax.
Ros Brown, who describes herself as an ordinary housewife, drove across town when she heard Ms Gillard would be touring Fairfield Gardens shopping centre today.
As Ms Gillard greeted shoppers in the flood-hit suburb, Ms Brown began screaming about her lack of a mandate, sparking a heated exchange with another shopper.
Gabrielle Sottile, who said she was from a fourth-generation Labor family, heard Ms Brown's shouts as she emerged from Coles, and started yelling back.
"She does have a mandate, she has our mandate, she might not have yours," she shouted, with two other shoppers piping up in support.
A young man, whose name is not known, joined the fray, saying Ms Brown had a right to protest.
"It's running our small businesses down the drain mate," he said. "Think about it."
As the drama played out around her, Ms Gillard continued chatting to people sitting outside a kebab shop.
She then introduced herself to Mrs Sottile, trying to joke about the confrontation.
"We've created some excitement in the shops," she said.
Mrs Sottile told reporters she was "sick to death" of hearing what she believed was misinformation about the new tax.
"All you hear are people who are ignorant, who know nothing about the package, who know nothing about climate change, spouting their views and putting them on other people," she said.
Ms Brown, who was wielding a sign that read: "Most incompetent government since Whitlam", told reporters she felt Australians were being led astray.
"I've never been in a protest in my life, I wasn't even in a protest at university," the Brookfield woman said.
"I honestly believe that she doesn't have a mandate, I really strongly believe that, and I believe the Australian people want to have a say on this issue."
Ms Gillard is in Brisbane for a people's forum on the carbon tax package, announced on Sunday.
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