Senate debates Questions without Notice

Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program


David Pocock

David Pocock ACT, Independent

2:35 pm

My question is for the Minister for Finance, Minister Gallagher. Minister, in February this year, I asked questions on notice in relation to the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program. The answers confirmed 229 invitations were issued for a $560 million fund. What was not disclosed was how a project came to be the subject of an election commitment. An analysis from the Centre for Public Integrity shows that 73 per cent of the $560 million went to notionally Labor held seats, predominantly to marginal Labor seats. Minister, is this pork-barrelling?