SYDNEY, Australia - The Coalition, a partnership of political parties, has announced its opposition to part of the plain tobacco packaging measure because it gives the government power to revise trademark conditions by "ministerial diktat," the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The government proposed an amendment trademark bill to accompany the plain package measure. The amendment would allow tobacco firms to use company trademarks elsewhere; the plain packaging bill bans trademarks from cigarette packs.

Coalition spokesman Dr. Andrew Southcott said the amendment would give the government the authority to set rules that override trademark law. Already, tobacco companies are requesting additional time to comply with the plain package regulations.

A government source countered that the amendment would merely give "an additional level of assurance for trademark owners that the government will be able to regulate quickly to address any areas of ambiguity should trademark protections be challenged as a result of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill."

The Coalition€™s support of the legislation will have no effect on its passage, which is expected. Tobacco companies and others, including some U.S. politicians, view the plain packaging legislation as attack on trademarks.