Canberra 'deprives' Canning
Voters in the Liberal-held Federal seat of Canning have been left tens of millions of taxpayers' dollars worse off than those sitting in key independent-held electorates on the east coast.
Figures collated by Canning MP Don Randall suggest a high price paid by the voters of Canning - and largesse lavished on Tony Windsor's seat of New England and Rob Oakeshott's Lyne electorate.
Across a range of government programs, the people of Canning have been big losers compared with those represented by Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott, according to Mr Randall.
Based on Mr Randall's figures, Canning has attracted more than $29.5 million in dedicated health funding since last financial year.
In Lyne, however, funding in health has surpassed $125 million, while in New England it has shared in more than $220 million.
Mr Randall estimates that the local government assistance grants to councils within Canning's boundaries have attracted $69.15 on a per capita basis.
In Mr Oakeshott's seat, the per capita allocation this financial year will be $143.02.
In Mr Windsor's electorate, the allocation is $294.58.
The Roads to Recovery program has been just as lopsided.
Per capita spending in Canning since 2009-10 will be $66 compared with $112 in Lyne and $283 in New England.
Mr Randall said in other funding areas, such as community infrastructure grants, Canning had been ignored at the expense of independent-held seats.
"The reality is the electors in Canning are being neglected at the hands of the Gillard Labor Government who are intent on sandbagging marginal and independent seats at the expense of other Australians," Mr Randall said.
"The people of Canning are being deprived of vital Commonwealth funds to which they are entitled, at a time when we are experiencing incredibly high rates of growth in many parts of the electorate."
But Finance Minister Penny Wong played down suggestions the Government was favouring the independents' electorates at the expense of Mr Randall's seat.
She said money flowed to electorates for set criteria.
"The majority of government funding is provided by individual departments through a range of programs according to particular criteria and/or eligibility," a spokeswoman for the minister said.
"Therefore spending in each electorate would reflect demographic profiles of that area."
