Pork barrelling and WA is dished up spam

11/10/07
When it comes to the Federal Government's pork barrelling, Western Australia is only offered spam, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today.
"Western Australians will be completely underwhelmed by Federal Treasurer Peter Costello's road funding promises this week," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The announcement of $10million for local government roads is clear evidence that WA is not taken seriously by the Howard Government."
The Minister was referring to Mr Costello's announcement that $5million had been allocated to the City of Wanneroo towards its Hepburn Upgrade Project, while $5million had been allocated to the City of Swan toward its Hepburn Avenue Extension Project.
"The Federal Government has promised $5billion towards Queensland's roads or 29 per cent of the total road funding for the five-year AusLink 2 national investment program that starts in 2009-10," she said.
"The Queensland announcements, so far, are $2.3billion for the Goodna Bypass; $455million for the Pacific Motorway; and $2billion for the Bruce Highway plus an expected $300million for maintenance.
"And then yesterday, Prime Minister John Howard promised an extra $2.4billion for the Pacific Highway along the coastal strip between Sydney and Brisbane.
"Even Tasmania, which is a fraction of the size and economic significance of WA, received $30million this week."

Ms MacTiernan said that if the total allocation for the AusLink 1 funding was anything to go by, the State Government was not holding its breath for an equitable slice of this latest round.
"Notwithstanding our tremendous growth, our export earnings and over $5billion surplus contributed to the Federal coffers, WA received only a paltry 10.3 per cent of AusLink 1," she said.
Minister's office - 9213 6400