Analysis conducted by the Australia Institute indicates that $3.9 billion has been allocated under seven federal grants programs since the federal Coalition came to power in 2013, with the programs being ones where ministers had discretion over where money was allocated. Some $2.8 billion, or 71% of the money, has gone to government-held seats, while only $903 million has gone to Labor seats and just $232 million went to electorates held by independents or minor parties:
Marginal Coalition seats received on average $184 per person in discretionary grant funding from national grants programs and $194 per person from regional grants programs, while safe Labor seats received $39 per person from national grants programs and $51 per person from regional grants programs.
Key Findings:
