Seats whacked in pre-poll largesse

From left, Mackay Mayor Col Meng, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and the LNP’s candidate for Dawson, George Christensen.

Tony Martin

IS ROCKHAMPTON missing out on millions of dollars in federal funding promises?

A political analyst and economics expert yesterday suggested the focus of the major political parties on marginal seats, like the Mackay-based Dawson and Gladstone-based Flynn could be coming at a cost to those in safe seats, like Capricornia.

Capricornia’s incumbent representative, Labor’s Kirsten Livermore, enjoys a large majority and it would take a massive swing against the Government for her to lose the seat to the LNP’s Michelle Landry.

So far none of the leaders of either major party have touched down in Rockhampton this election campaign.

Meanwhile, in the past week Tony Abbot has announced $30m for a ring road study at Mackay, which was $20m more than what Treasurer Wayne Swan offered a few days earlier.

The LNP’s commitment came on top of one for $5m for the Mackay Showgrounds.

It’s been a similar story in Flynn.

Yesterday, CQUniversity professor in regional economic development John Rolfe said it appeared more attention and funding announcements were being made in marginal seats.

“Being in a marginal seat is an advantage,” Professor Rolfe said.

“A lot of focus in this election is specific strategies in marginal seats, leading to more projects being announced.

“A concern about these marginal seat policies is that some projects may not be good allocations of public funds.

“As general rules of thumb, projects should meet a cost benefit test and the funding decisions should be very transparent.

“If projects are not good value for money, this effectively discriminates against the safer seats.”

James Cook University political expert Associate Professor Dr Doug Hunt wasn’t keen to discuss the situation in Central Queensland.

But he said: “As a general rule you would expect both parties to pay more attention to marginal seats.”