Audit of Regional Grants

Wednesday November 24, 08:41 AM

"The Federal Opposition has called for the auditor-general to probe funding decisions made by the government under its Regional Partnerships program.

Concerns have been raised that much of the $100 million program was earmarked during the election to be spent in seats held by the Nationals or in former Nationals seats held by independents."

Pete's Points

It is amazing that voters have not yet managed to get the 'right idea' from the certainty that anyone in government is more likely to spend money on those electorates that are either marginal or in the hands of their opposition.

What is the right idea?

Make more electorates marginal!

If you watched the last elections - whether they were here in Australia or in the USA no one really gave a damn about those places that were known as a 'sure thing'. They were allocated to the party that traditionally wins them and the focus of all attention was on those electorates that were uncertain, where voters do NOT vote blindly for one party or another but actually make a choice based on what the parties or the candidates from those parties are actually going to do for them.

In line with the notion that is being used here in Australia by the government in respect of people in the community in receipt of welfare payments, called Mutual Obligations, maybe this is the only way we can get governments to undertake their obligation to us as citizens and taxpayers, by forcing them to take an interest in us, rather than always someone else who has been smart enough to keep them guessing about who they vote for.