Labor has announced a plan to ban pork barrelling if elected, accusing the state Liberals of running up the state’s debt with “480 election commitments” worth nearly $1.3 billion.
Labor leader Dean Winter said the state’s finances are now “officially the worst in the nation” after a decade of Liberal rule.
“Individually, nearly all of them have some merit,” he said.
“But collectively, in the context of a budget disaster, they highlight just how irresponsible the Liberals have become with the finances under Jeremy Rockliff’s leadership.”
Winter’s plan comes on the heels of the 2024-25 state budget revealing a projected net debt of $8.5 billion in four years.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he has “never heard a bigger load of bullcrap coming from Labor”, accusing the party of spending $4 billion more than the Liberals during the recent state election campaign.
“They were issuing Facebook posts, spending more money like drunken sailors during the election,” Rockliff said.
“Dean Winter couldn’t wait to get on Facebook and spend taxpayer money with no thought. Secret letters to constituents and community organisations with no knowledge of the public throughout the election.”
“For them to say and talk about pork barrelling right now is breathtaking in its hypocrisy.”
Winter said Labor’s proposed law would require all government grants to go through an “impartial assessment process”.
“We will not allow debt to continue to be racked up for political purposes and we will put an end to the ugly spectacle of government MPs being investigated by the Integrity Commission for making grants that directly benefit themselves or their families,” he said.
Rockliff said his government has a “very measured but purposeful approach to budget sustainability”.
“We’ve got a sensible pathway to surplus, investing in the right areas, hospitals and schools and our police, housing and cost of living relief,” he said.
