Fergus Hunter reports in the Brisbane Times (26.6.16) on the largesse being offered by the major political parties during the federal election campaign, highlighting how the Coalition’s promised environmental funding is almost entirely directed to LNP-held or marginal electorates. This follows a similar pork barrelling roll-call of promised infrastructure projects, identified as ‘wasteful’ by a Grattan Institute report.
‘Local environment grants announced by the Coalition since the start of the election campaign have been overwhelmingly directed to marginal seats.
‘Data compiled by the Australian Conservation Foundation has found 26 of 37 funding announcements for solar energy and other environmental initiatives went solely to marginal electorates, which received at least $10.8 million in total.
‘A further three announcements – worth more than $14.8 million – benefited several electorates including marginals and the rest went to safe seats held mostly by the Coalition.
‘This means that 95 per cent of the $26.7 million total, which mostly falls under the Solar Communities, Green Army and threatened species programs, directly benefits the battleground seats of this election.’