The pork-barrel's pungent odour

[lightningdance]

IT'S not often political leaders get advice from a cartoon but judging by the current mob it's probably the most sophisticated guidance they've received yet. In this case the ALP might want to look to a celebrated line from Matt Groening's Futurama, in which a god-like entity declares that it's difficult being a deity; the key is a light touch.

"When you do things right," it concludes, "people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

The same can be said of the ancient political art of pork-barrelling.

All parties do it, the only difference is the good ones don't make it look like pork-barrelling.

Sadly, even in this cynical pursuit, the ALP's political skills have faded.

The announcement of the Regional Development Fund was a barefaced billion-dollar sop to the independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor in exchange for their votes in parliament.

Indeed, so transparent was it that The Daily Telegraph discovered in the last Budget that seven out of eight extra funding projects for the regions went to just three seats - Mr Windsor's, Mr Oakeshott's and that of fellow Gillard-supporting independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

Today we reveal that a staggering 98 per cent of funding for a disability program was handed out in Labor or Greens seats - and of course, once more, Mr Wilkie's.

Of course it may well be that there are more organisations for the disabled in lower socio-economic areas that are thus more likely to be Labor seats.

However, the fact that only 2 per cent of the money has found its way to Coalition seats has the sweet and not so subtle smell of pork all over it.

Indeed, even if this is a pure coincidence, the sheer odds against such a skew occurring on merit are remarkable enough to warrant investigation. Certainly the Auditor-General thinks so

.

That investigation will hopefully conclude that this has been an exceptional aberration and that the money is going to where it is needed.

Unfortunately, it may instead emerge that Labor is not just politically compromised enough to manipulate funds for such a noble cause but also politically incompetent enough to not even disguise it.

Either way, it would be a better world if we never had to doubt such things in the first place.

From:The Daily Telegraph

[lakeland27]

What about Teds knifing ? why arent you talking about that instead of the same old ?

[*crikey*mate*]

yeah, what about Ted's knifing?

Morning LL

*cheeky grin*

[*new2vintage]

That's Julia's department - she's an infamous back stabber.

[lakeland27]

morning crikey 🙂

 That's Julia's department - she's an infamous back stabber'

it seems now that its standard  for both parties .. that line of attack is a bit blunt after the victorian premier was skewered like a  shaslick this week. at the press conference the next day mr abbott was asked twice if if he had a role. he didnt reply either time, so he did. if you heard the questions and response there is no doubt.

[monman12]

"What about Teds knifing ? why arent you talking about that instead of the same old ?"

Why LL?, It is not a Federal matter as much as you would  seek to promote it as such. Ted's demise  was inevitable after Shaw took some lessons from Slipper apropos government car use,  the Nutt tapes, Labour poll lead in Victoria,  Baillieu’s approval of 31%, and disapproval of 53%.

Ted "fell" on his sword, having been handed it, whilst Rudd ended up with one in his back.

If State politics are topical let's have some WA comments, pre, and post election.

[lakeland27]

the knifing puts itself in context by being the same thing john. it goes to questions of character in the wider liberal movement 😄

i know little about WA, but i'd expect the incumbent to win.

[lightningdance]

I expect Liberals to win in WA & then wipe out the rest of Labor in the Federal election.

Victoria might stand a better chance with Ted gone, lt's face it, he was not cut out for the top job, realised it, & resigned.

Trying to tar Libs with the NSW & Federal Labor disease is silly in the extreme.

Just like the Labor supporters are backing away from full support for Gillard they are now saying both leaders are no good. This is a transparent ploy played by Labor supporters when the penny finally drops.

[monman12]

"the knifing puts itself in context by being the same thing john. it goes to questions of character in the wider liberal movement"

I know you are a Cyclopian  LL,  but that indicates you also wear a sun glass.

"i know little about WA, but i'd expect the incumbent to win." as would I LL.

For some strange reason "LABOR strategists  issued a "keep out" of WA edict for Julia Gillard in the lead-up to the March 9 state election......Ms Gillard  agreed to the request, declining to set foot in WA on the orders of campaign chiefs since late 2012."

[nero_bolt]

Julia Gillard rolls out pork barrel in western Sydney heartland

LABOR has used Julia Gillard's week-long visit to Rooty Hill to invite western Sydney councils to reapply for millions of dollars in regional development grants, sparking accusations the government is pork-barrelling to sandbag marginal seats.

It has emerged that all 19 proposed western Sydney infrastructure projects applying for the $175 million fourth round of Regional Development Australia Fund grants have gone on to the next stage of the approval process, compared with a maximum of three projects from other regional areas. Regional Development Minister Simon Crean will announce the successful grants in mid-July - two months before the federal election.

As the Prime Minister toured western Sydney this week, Mr Crean announced a memorandum of understanding with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to create a Regional Development Australia committee for Greater Western Sydney to allow it to be considered for funding separately from the Sydney area

The full story is here and its full of labor stench http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julia-gillard-rolls-out-pork-barrel-in-western-sydney-heartland/story-fn59niix-1226593587875