Fed: Roxon rejects claims of pork-barrelling

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2010
Fed: Roxon rejects claims of pork-barrelling

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has defended the government's
spending record on hospitals, saying claims of pork-barrelling are far too simplistic.

Nearly three quarters of the $3.2 billion from the Health and Hospitals Fund had favoured
Labor and marginal coalition-held seats, it was reported this week.

That figure jumped to 83 per cent when notionally-Labor seats were included, The Australian
newspaper said.

Accusations of pork-barrelling were "far too simplistic", Mr Roxon said.

"These are good investments and they should not be politicised," she told ABC Television
on Thursday.

"I am very confident that this has all been done with an arms-length process advising us."

The Australian also revealed that more than $1.2 billion of the $1.5 billion in the
Education Investment Fund had been spent in Labor electorates.

Of the $238.6 million allocated to coalition seats 70 per cent was spent in marginal electorates.

AAP sld/rl/goc/

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS ROXON

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