Labor slams Grylls hospital promise

WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls has been accused of Joh Bjelke-Petersen-style campaigning after he promised to find $60 million of State Royalties for Regions funding for Geraldton Hospital if Nationals candidate Shane Van Styn is elected today to the Federal seat of Durack.

Mr Van Styn is locked in a battle with Liberal candidate Melissa Price to win Durack, WA's largest seat which stretches from parts of the northern and central Wheatbelt through to the Kimberley.

Mr Grylls revealed the promise in a front page report in the Geraldton Guardian newspaper yesterday, saying he would travel to Canberra with Mr Van Styn within 30 days to meet with the Federal health minister if he was elected.

"I will seek $60 million of Royalties for Regions funding on the condition the Federal Government agrees to meet Shane's request," Mr Grylls told the Guardian.

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said the promise was an improper use of WA's taxpayers' money in an effort to sway the outcome of a Federal election.

"It is an attempt to use State taxpayers' money to bribe voters in that electorate," Mr McGowan said. "If you make a promise, it should be in place regardless of who the electorate votes for."

"Colin Barnett and Brendon Grylls increasingly remind me of (former Queensland premier) Joh Bjelke-Petersen and his dictatorial style of government in the 1970s."

Mr Barnett and WA Health Minister Kim Hames declined to comment but Mr Grylls defended the pledge yesterday, saying an upgrade to the hospital was "clearly" the No.1 issue for people in the area.

"Royalties for Regions has partnered with the Commonwealth before to attract Federal funds and that's something I'm keen to pursue again," he said. "Whoever wins the seat of Durack, this is an issue that needs to be addressed."

Ms Price said she would have direct access to "the next Liberal PM, next Liberal treasurer and next Liberal health minister to make this happen".