Govt says infrastructure funding based on objective criteria

The Federal Government says the infrastructure funding for councils was calculated using the same independent process as the previous government.

The Opposition has demanded the Government reveal how it decided on the allocation of its $300 million infrastructure stimulus package.

All councils got at least $100,000, but some received close to $3 million.

Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese says the funding allocations were based on objective criteria.

"This is a transparent process," he said.

"It's the same process that was in place under their government, the Local Government Grants Commission, a political organisation.

"They essentially perform an appropriate accounting or accounting-type function."

Mr Albanese says every council will receive the funds, regardless of politics.

"It is extraordinary that the Opposition, who for year after year doled out money just to their mates in marginal seats," he said.

"What we have here is that every single council will receive this funding based upon this objective criteria.

"There are no politics involved."

Opposition Local Government spokesman Scott Morrison had said there is confusion as to how the Federal Government calculated the figures.

"Vague descriptions about how money might have been handed out isn't good enough," he said.

"What they should be providing is the detail of the financial formula used to calculate how much money each council got.

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Wed 19th November 2008 - 07:52pm