Gillard denies Qld pork barrelling

Money from the government's $42 billion economic stimulus package isn't being used
for pork barrelling in Queensland's state election, Deputy Prime Minister Julia
Gillard says.
The federal opposition on Tuesday accused Labor of manipulating its $14.7 billion
school infrastructure program to suit the needs of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in
the run-up to Saturday's poll.
Coalition education spokesman Christopher Pyne told parliament the Building the
Education Revolution (BER) program guidelines had been "conveniently made more
flexible, changed or ignored" to suit Ms Bligh and Queensland federal MP Yvette
D'Ath "in the midst of the Queensland state election campaign".
Mr Pyne said the principal of Eatons Hill State School was initially advised his
school wasn't eligible for BER funding because its proposed multi-purpose hall was
already planned and partly funded.
But after a meeting with Ms D'Ath, the principal announced the school was eligible
for up to $3 million, Mr Pyne said.
However, Ms Gillard says the opposition is "desperate" and trying to make "a cheap
political point".
Ms D'Ath had mentioned on Monday she'd resolved "a problem" at the school, which is
in Liberal MP Peter Dutton's electorate of Dickson, the education minister said.
Labor was engaged in the biggest school modernisation program in Australia's
history, and it had to be rolled out quickly to stimulate the economy.
"People need the information and they need assistance," Ms Gillard said.
"Properly, the member for Petrie (Ms D'Ath) provided that in the electorate of the
member for Dickson to assist a school with a local problem."
The deputy PM insisted Labor had always made it clear BER money could be used to
supplement existing building programs so long as there was no "substitution".
"That partnering, that top-up can be done," she said, adding Ms D'Ath provided an
answer to the principal that she herself would have given.
Former opposition leader Brendan Nelson also raised concerns about the BER program
on Tuesday during question time.
He said a school in his NSW electorate had been told it had to use a state
government preferred contractor to carry out fencing work, despite the company
quoting $40,000 for a job a local company offered to do for just $22,000.
Ms Gillard said the commonwealth was working with state governments so local
providers could be involved in BER construction.
She promised to work with Dr Nelson to "resolve" the issue.