Report finds pork-barrelling a prevalent issue in Australian politics
The Grattan Institute has released a detailed report about the funding of marginal seats was almost four times the rate of safe seats in the $1 billon Community Development Grant program.
Anika Stobart from the Grattan Institute and co-author of New politics: Preventing pork barrelling told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live that their report found both Coalition and Labor Governments guilty of this at a federal and state level.
“They both use government grants for political purposes. We also see disproportionate funding going to marginal seats as well as more taxpayers money used for political purposes, rather than the public interest, going to government seats over opposition seats,” she told Oly.
“As taxpayers we want to know we are getting bang for buck – we would hope that the best program applications would be selected rather than the projects that actually bring political benefits. It’s unfair and wasteful.”
Press PLAY to hear more on how Australian politicians are part taking in pork-barrelling