Election pork-barreling on Bathurst funding
3/11/2001 22:18 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The Labor Party will consider it, while the Coalition is in dissension.
At a time when politicians are promising everything bar the kitchen sink to boost their re-election chances, it seems a government rescue package for the spiritual home of Australian motorsport, Mount Panorama, has never been further away.
Funding for the historic venue has become an election issue ahead of Saturday’s Federal poll (albeit a trivial one at a time of domestic and global uncertainty) yet sympathisers of the 'Save Mount Panorama' campaign are none the wiser as to who should receive their vote.
The National Party candidate for the Bathurst seat of Calare, Dave Shearing, has guaranteed $10 million in federal money “over four or five years” to upgrade the circuit – dependent on him winning the seat, the Coalition holding onto power, and the New South Wales state government matching the offer.
Mr Shearing says he has the support of National Party Leader John Anderson and Liberal Party President Shane Stone.
Yet the promise defies the long-held position of Sports Minister Jackie Kelly, who says any money should come from state coffers, not the Commonwealth.
“Development and maintenance of facilities such as the Mount Panorama circuit and its surrounds are essentially the responsibility of state and local governments,” Ms Kelly told The Western Advocate last month.
Mr Shearing has denied his conditional promise is a political stunt.
He said the incumbent member for Calare, Independent Peter Andren, had no chance of securing the funding with a minority voice in parliament.
"If you've got a voice in government you get funding,” he said. “If you don't you get knocked back. It's not cynical, it's a fact.”
The embattled National Party has never held the seat of Calare, and would need a swing of some 22 percent against the Independent to win.
A Labor government looks just as unlikely to answer the call for funding.
ACT Senator Kate Lundy, who handles the sports portfolio for Labor, says while a Labor government would consider any proposal, a funding package was not on the agenda.
“Labor has been upfront and honest in saying that we are not in a position to deliver funding, but will genuinely consider the issue in government, if elected,” Ms Lundy said in a statement.
Ms Lundy highlighted the Coalition’s contradiction on the issue and called for the Minister to clarify the situation.
“Is it going to be funded by the Coalition, or is Dave Shearing evoking tacky political blackmail by telling the people of Calare that they will only receive funding if he is elected?” she asked.
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