An apology to the readers of Crikey is in order. For months now I have been preparing a list of spending proposals, mainly announced by the Prime Minister, John Howard, under the generic heading of “The Grass Roots Gravy Train” and calling them election promises.

Yesterday Mr Howard solemnly declared that his billions of dollars of giveaways since the May budget were not election promises at all. “We’re still in government,” he said after announcing another round of money for Tasmanian hospitals. “It’s not an election promise when you are still in government.”

This very interesting definition by Mr Howard means he cannot be accused of breaking an election promise ever again. Should he win this election he will not have made any such promises to break because he will be in government right up until polling day. Surely this is taking trickiness to a higher level than even Mr Howard intended but how can we be sure? Let’s just give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that the Prime Minister meant to say that his election promises will kick in only after he formally announces the election date.

As part of our policy of avoiding accusations of bias we will therefore not start describing promises as election promises on our Gravy Train list until the official starting signal is given.

Which still leaves us at Crikey with the problem of how to describe the incredibly long list of things already on our Gravy Train? After careful consideration we have decided on “Pre-election promise electoral bribes.”

The latest instalments are:

8 October 2007 – I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government will fund a number of measures to improve key elements of Tasmania’s health services infrastructure, totalling $35 million over four years. Funding of $8 million will be provided over three years for the construction of new purpose-built rehabilitation and transitional care facilities and a new psychiatric unit, at the Burnie Hospital. At Launceston General Hospital $16 million will be provided over three years for the upgrading of oncology, radiotherapy and transitional care facilities and the establishment of new cardiac care facilities. A further $8.5 million will be provided over four years for specific patient transport measures … I am also announcing that the Australian Government will provide up to $1 million in 2007-08 for each of Ouse and Rosebery Hospitals.

 

5 October 2007 – I am pleased to announce today that the Australian Government will provide a $95 million contribution for the construction of the Townsville Port Access Road as part of the Coalition’s 2020 Plan for Australia’s Transport Future.

4 October 2007 – I am pleased to announce a major upgrade of the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns as part of our 2020 plan for Australia’s Transport Future, with a major focus on North Queensland between Sarina and Cairns … Over the current five years from 2004/05 to 2008/9 the Australian Government is investing $800 million to improve the Bruce Highway, but we recognise more must be done. The Australian Government will significantly increase its investment by $2 billion for the five years from 2009, with further investment to follow by 2020. North Queensland will receive the majority of the funding for the Bruce Highway, with Sarina to Cairns receiving $800 million over the five years to 2014.

3 October 2007 – Today I am very pleased to announce that the Australian Government will provide $190 million in funding over five years to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their parents and carers.

30 September 2007 – I am very pleased to announce that the Australian Government will provide funding of $1 million to the Sydney Christmas Parade Trust to assist with the presentation of the inaugural Sydney Christmas Parade to be held on 25 November 2007.

You will find the full list here.