Pay offs Australian Style

The Labor party in Australia apparently doesn't have any problems explicitly buying votes.

CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has extended an olive branch to the sole independent lawmaker who chose not to back her minority government, promising to fund a range of projects in his electorate even without his parliamentary support.

In a sign the prime minister is aware of the fragility of an alliance with other non-party lawmakers that saw her center-left Labor government returned to power by just one lower house vote, Gillard has agreed to prioritize a number of projects in independent Bob Katter's electorate.

They include transmission lines to connect renewable energy projects to the national grid and a A$350 million government grant for the construction of a large-scale solar generation plant along the Townsville to Mt. Isa transmission line in north Queensland state. . . .

More examples of pay offs. LYNE’S independent MP Rob Oakeshott got the following benefits:

A Labor minority government will support the expeditious construction of the Pacific Highway from Hexham to the Queensland border, and will:

a) Accelerate planning work on the 37.8 kilometre section of the Pacific Highway from Kempsey to Port Macquarie with an additional investment of $35 million over three years towards property acquisition, geotechnical work and site preparation that is necessary to get this project 'shovel ready'.

b) Develop a more reliable cost estimate for the project so that a budget allocation can be made to accelerate major construction work, based on the accelerated planning work.
A Labor minority government supports the establishment of a multi-partner university campus on the mid north coast of NSW, and will:

a) Provide $20 million in seed funding from and following a Regional Priority Round of the Eduction Investment Fund.

b) Funding for this project will be subject to EIF board approval, and will be fully offset consistent with Labor's fiscal rules.

A Labor minority government supports the expansion of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital in NSW, and will:

a) Fund the fourth pod for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, at an estimated cost of around $75 million.

b) Funding for this project will be subject to HHF board approval, and will be fully offset consistent with Labor's fiscal rules.

A minority Labor government will facilitate discussion of future tax reform as follows:

a) Convene a public forum of experts on taxation and its economic and social effects to discuss the Henry Review, with that meeting to be held before June 30, 2011.

A minority Labor government will also seek to prioritise the following local projects when considering funding allocations from the new $800 million Priority Regional Infrastructure Program or the Regional Infrastructure Fund:

a) Local roads and timber bridge replacement package in response to the Percy Allan Review into the roads maintenance back log at Greater Taree City Council.

b) The Mid North Coast Aviation Plan for business expansion and airport access expansion at Taree, Port Macquarie and Kempsey airports.

c) Upgrade the Bucketts Way at Krambach ? the main regional road between Gloucester and Taree.

A minority Labor government will also pursue the following other matters:

a) A referendum during the 43rd Parliament or at the next election on recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.

b) Develop a proposal for a pilot of the Industry Vocational Training and Employment Centres for priority funding through the 2011 round of the Indigenous and Industry Skills Centre.

c) Release a full response to the bi-partisan Coastal Erosion Report within three months of forming government.

d) Extend Priority Employment Areas, including regional job expos, through to 2013.

e) Establish a Parliamentary Committee to consider the ability of small businesses in regional Australia to access affordable credit. . . .

More on offers to Katter:

The Prime Minister has vowed to support renewable energy projects in the breakaway independent's electorate, in a sign Labor still wants to keep the north Queensland maverick on side. . . .