Northcote by-election: Greens accuse Labor of pork barrelling to secure marginal seat

THE State Government has spent $12 million on schools alone since the Northcote by-election was called — leading the Greens to accuse Labor of pork barrelling to secure the marginal seat.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Labor candidate for Northcote Clare Burns. Picture: George Salpigtidis

THE money tap is flowing in Melbourne’s north as the State Government pours cash into the district during the Northcote by-election.

More than $12 million has been spent on schools alone since the by-election was called, including $2 million to Bell Primary School in Preston and $1 million to Catholic Santa Maria College in Northcote last week.

Northcote by-election: Candidates Clare Burns and Lidia Thorpe answer key questions

But the cash avalanche has drawn criticism from the Greens, who have accused the Labor Government of pork barrelling to secure the marginal seat.

The rapid-fire announcements followed $5 million given to Thornbury High School and $3.15 million for Northcote Primary School.

Greens candidate for Northcote Lidia Thorpe said the Government was trying to buy votes.

“We welcome the spending in our schools (but) these schools have been falling down for many, many years and it’s a shame that it’s taken a by-election to get some kind of action and simple maintenance in these schools — if that’s not pork barrelling, I don’t know what is,” she said.

Lidia Thorpe, Greens candidate for the Northcote by-election, says school funding decisions should be taken away from the Government. Picture: Supplied

Ms Thorpe said she supported the establishment of an independent body which would take school funding decisions away from the Government.

“We need (to) ensure that it is not the minister that makes these decisions ... our people in Northcote need to decide what schools need what money,” she said.

But Labor candidate for Northcote Clare Burns rubbished the accusation.

“There’s no change because of the Northcote by-election, these are schools that need money, that are on the list for money and we’ve been able to provide for them because that’s what Labor governments do,” she said.

Education Minister James Merlino said the recent funding announcements were a fraction of the $2.5 billion the Government had spent on education since 2014.

Northcote High School principal Kate Morris has slammed the State Government for neglecting the overcrowded school, but other schools in the area have enjoyed a cash windfall. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“Victoria’s school building boom has delivered more than 1000 school upgrades and 56 new school projects across the state, supporting almost 5000 construction jobs,” he said.

Labor is in a tight contest with the Greens for the seat of Northcote following the sudden death of MP Fiona Richardson.

If Northcote goes Green, Labor fears other marginal seats such as Richmond and Brunswick could be next, effectively locking the party out of much of the inner city.

On top of the school funding blitz, Labor has allocated $500,000 for Ms Burns’ campaign, almost triple its typical campaign budget.

Early voting has begun ahead of election day on November 18 and polling has given Labor a slight edge.

But the Greens hope to clean up with young progressive voters who have flocked to the northern suburbs in recent years and capitalise on dissatisfaction with the State Government.

@edjgardiner