The Salvation Army's Major Paul Hateley at the church's new Ingle Farm support centre, which is still under construction. Picture: Tricia Watkinson Source: adelaidenow
- Missing out: 'this would have meant 150 jobs'
CHARITIES and community groups fear South Australians will miss out on federal government funding for important projects because they are not in the key federal political battleground of Western Sydney.
The Gillard Government has already rejected requests for money for South Australian projects, including wireless internet in Adelaide, a redevelopment of Thebarton oval and a major upgrade of the Salvation Army's busiest centre.
An international culinary centre in the Barossa Valley, a redevelopment of the Goolwa wharf and a safe driving program for the Eyre Peninsula have also missed out as the Government gives preference to projects in Western Sydney, where opinion polls show it faces losing up to 10 marginal seats in the September Federal Election.
See what else has already missed out here
The Federal Government is giving preference to projects from Western Sydney that apply to the $1 billion Federal Government Regional Development Australia Fund.
Following a week-long visit by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to Western Sydney last month, it was revealed all of the 19 proposals from that area would automatically progress to the second round of consideration.
But 33 proposals from South Australian regions have already been rejected.
South Australian community groups which contacted The Advertiser to complain did not want to make a public comment, but said they feared projects here were being sacrificed.
South Australian Council of Social Service executive director Ross Womersley called for a level playing field to be applied.
"It would be regrettable if the Western Sydney arrangements led to projects being considered which were not as worthy as those in South Australia," he said.
"If the Prime Minister's commentary were followed, there is the potential for all government funds to be applied in the same manner."
He said the SA proposals that had missed out were "full of ideas" for community resources which are very important.
"The Salvation Army project, a number of Aboriginal projects and local councils have all put up ideas to build badly needed local community infrastructure," he said.
Usually only three projects from each RDA region get to go to the second stage of the funding process where a full, detailed bid is made.
Uniting Communities spokesman Mark Henley said needs alone and maximum benefit being delivered by the projects should be the only considerations.
"There need to be clear principles applied across Australia," he said.
"No doubt there would be Western Sydney projects that would fit into the categories but don't go putting all the eggs into Western Sydney when there are other areas crying out for attention as well," he said.
Former regional development minister - and now backbencher - Simon Crean, said it remained the case that only three programs would be funded from Western Sydney.
But South Australian senator Simon Birmingham is sceptical, saying there is the risk that Labor will bend the rules again in the lead-up to the next election to build support in the area.
"From our perspective it certainly reeks of blatant and desperate pork-barrelling," Senator Birmingham said.
"While the people of Western Sydney might be grateful for any largesse that comes their way I'm sure they'll see through it for what it is, while meanwhile the rest of the country will see that it's a sleight on meritorious projects in the rest of the country.
"Desperate governments do desperate things. Labor were fierce critics of how some grant funding occurred under the Howard government but they seem to have forgotten all of their pledges for higher standards of independence and transparency in the grants process."
The $1 billion Regional Development Australia Fund was a key commitment made by Ms Gillard to secure the support of independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor to form government in 2010. It has awarded $350 million in Commonwealth funds to 81 projects around the country in the first three funding rounds.
The $175 million fourth round had already short-listed potential grant winners before Ms Gillard's trip to Rooty Hill in Western Sydney last month but the door was reopened.
The successful grants are expected to be announced in mid-July, two months before the Federal Election.
Mr Crean, however, denied Western Sydney was getting special treatment.
"The Western Sydney RDA will not be able to apply for more than three just like any other," he said.
Ms Gillard's office did not respond to a request for comment.
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