Labor targets marginal and key seats with sports grant cash splash
Labor’s claims it would “stop the waste” appear to have been sunk by plans to target marginal and key seats with cash for pools.
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Labor is splashing millions of dollars in a cash for pools pork barrelling plan in marginal and target seats – including pledging eight times beyond what was asked for – sinking claims they would “stop the waste”.
The promises have been made in 10 pools across the country totally $114 million including in the Queensland seats of Blair, held by Labor on 1.3 per cent and the target seat of Flynn.
In another example, Ipswich council had asked for $2.5 million investigations into the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment precinct in March as part of the federal election hit list in March, but were offered $20 million for the full facility in April.
It is despite Labor’s campaign accusing the government of pork barrelling on sporting club and car park, promising “stop the rorts and the pork barrelling” and to “fund projects fairly and based on need”.
Other seats targeted include Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s seat of Grayndler, Higgins, Bass, Isaacs, Solomons, Wills, Bruce, Hotham and Corangamite – seven of which are Labor held.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said it showed Labor did not know how to manage money and could not be “trusted to run the economy”.
“Anthony Albanese has never put together a Budget and recklessly offering to pay eight times more for a project than he is being asked, should show Australians why he is a serious risk to our ongoing economic recovery,” he said.
“If you need to buy a new fridge costing $750, you wouldn’t offer $6,000 instead – but that’s exactly what Labor has done here.
“This is further demonstration that Labor is addicted to spending and we know that this addiction will only lead to higher taxes and higher interest rates for Australians.”
A Labor spokesman said their commitments were developed in consultation with state and local governments.
“This includes detailed consultations with Ipswich City Council, who also prepared a business case,” he said.
“For some time, this has been part of council’s plans for the North Ipswich Precinct.”
In projects announced since October last year alone, Labor has pledged $15m for Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool in Higgins (held by the LNP on 3.9 per cent), $20m for City of Kingston Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Isaacs, $15m for George Town Aquatic Centre in Bass (held by the LNP on 0.5 per cent), $1m for Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrades in Grayndler, $7.5m for major upgrade to Casuarina Pool in Solomon (held by Labor on 3.1 per cent), $500k for Fawkner Pool in Wills, $15m for Boyne Tannum Aquatic Centre in Flynn, $20m for Noble Park and Dandenong swimming pools in Bruce and Hotham, $20m for North Bellarine Aquatic Centre in Corangamite, held by Labor on 1.1 per cent.
Originally published as Labor targets marginal and key seats with sports grant cash splash
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