Labor is waging a ground war in key electorates using money pots worth almost half a billion dollars strategically stashed aside as the outcomes of popular funding programs were left ''unannounced'' in recent months.
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Away from centrepiece policies designed to grab national attention and despite a tough budget position, voters in marginal seats are being swayed with targeted CCTV and crime prevention grants, ethnic museums, libraries and green buildings.
The $40 million National Crime Prevention Fund, offering cash to councils for CCTV systems and local charities for youth crime prevention programs, closed for applications in May.
Half of the recipients have been announced in marginal electorates by Justice Minister Jason Clare in the first week of the campaign.
In one of Labor's most marginal seats, Greenway, held by 0.09 per cent, the biggest chunk of funding was announced for 49 projects worth $12.5 million across NSW. These included 27 CCTV systems for councils, worth $5.4 million, and $2.7 million for Police Citizens Youth Clubs to offer early morning boxing for teens at risk of truancy.
Tasmanian projects worth $1.3 million were announced in Bass, held by Labor with a 6.7 per cent margin, and another 18 in Melbourne. Mr Clare said there were more applications than could be funded. PCYC chief executive Chris Gardiner noted the funds had already been allocated, though were not yet announced publicly, before the election was called.
The western Sydney suburbs of Canterbury, Bankstown, Burwood, Parramatta, Fairfield, Liverpool, and the regional Tamworth council received the biggest CCTV grants. ''CCTV is an important crime fighting tool,'' Mr Clare said.
The $150 million Regional Development Australia Fund closed its latest round for applications on July 22, but already money is being spent on the election trail.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd splashed $375,000 in Launceston, also in Bass, on Saturday on upgrading a park.
Minister for Regional Australia Catherine King announced the Casino Regional Livestock Exchange had got $3.5 million from the fund, while the Kalamunda Library would get $112,870. Labor holds Casino on a small 4.2 per cent margin, but the seat swings between major parties. Kalamunda is in the seat of Hasluck, the Liberal's second most marginal electorate, held by Ken Wyatt by 0.6 per cent.
Applications for the latest Trade Training Centres round of $200 million closed in March. Labor is keen to highlight the commitment to the trade centres, attached to schools, as a point of difference to the Liberals, and parliamentary secretary Kelvin Thomson was spruiking the latest centre to open in the western Sydney seat of Watson. His office says the latest list of successful schools will be notified ''shortly'' and announcements made soon.
Applications for the new $4.55 million Building Multicultural Communities fund closed on June 28. Minister for Multicultural Affairs Kate Lundy has made some quick decisions, and has also started doling out the cash during the campaign - to African and Khmer communities in Adelaide, Koreans in Bennelong, and the Islamic community in Victoria.
Low Carbon Communities grants to seven local councils to install solar systems, worth a combined $260,134, were approved on August 5, the same day the election writs were issued.
But Labor sources said despite last week's $50 million Newcastle Tourle Street Bridge announcement, funded from the existing Nation Building Program, this election won't be fought on new roads, because most have already been announced in the budget.