Ups the ante for seat
SARAH Henderson’s motto seems to be simple: Anything Libby Coker can do, I can do better.
The Liberal Party has blown the Labor Party out of the water with a $2.8 billion cash splash to retain the marginal seat of Corangamite.
While the Libs’ showpiece announcement is $2 billion for a 32-minute fast train to Melbourne, it has also outbid the Labor Party on everything from swimming pools, sporting upgrades and even a new headspace centre.
In December, Ms Coker was first off the block, announcing $15.3 million for an aquatic centre for Torquay including a 25m indoor pool.
On Sunday, the Libs went one better by upping the funding to $20 million for a 50m indoor pool before announcing another $10 million for an outdoor pool in the north of the Bellarine Peninsula.
“We have committed $10 million for a 50m outdoor pool in the north Bellarine because you cannot swim in a feasibility study, you need to swim in a pool,” Ms Henderson said.
The gibe was directed at Ms Coker, who has pledged $3 million towards stage two of Drysdale sports precinct, including $200,000 for a pool feasibility study.
Last month, Ms Coker vowed to establish and build a new headspace centre in Ocean Grove within two years of winning office, but no funding details were revealed.
Ms Henderson also slapped down $4 million to build a health and wellbeing hub in Ocean Grove, including a headspace centre.
Deakin University politics expert Geoffrey Robinson said the millions pouring into Corangamite was unfair, especially when Corio had greater social needs.
“Under party government, MPs don’t have much power,” Dr Robinson said. “But as a holder of a marginal seat she is important, so it’s not surprising benefits appear as the election approaches.
“There is a case for Commonwealth involvement in infrastructure as they have most tax revenue and are in a strong position to borrow, but why such funds for microprojects that surely state or local government would be better informed about?”
When asked why projects such as the Torquay pool had not been completed during her six years in office, Ms Henderson was unapologetic.
“Would you rather the $20 million commitment not be made?” she said.
Ms Henderson said all but one of her 27 pledges were fully funded having been included in the 2019-20 Budget.
Corio MP Richard Marles said the Liberals had not committed $2.8 billion or anything like it.
“If you look at the amount of money that is supposedly pledged to the two rail projects, there’s only about $100 million in the forward estimates,” Mr Marles said. “There’s an awful lot of announcements and photographs being taken but, when you actually clear it away, there’s not much here for the people of Geelong.
“I’m not sure she’s found any money, what she has found is an advertising campaign.
“There is no real sense in which this Government ever imagines delivering a bullet train between Geelong and Melbourne.”