FED:PM dismisses $15b 'party favours' claim

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2011
FED:PM dismisses $15b 'party favours' claim

Eds: Adds explanatory 3rd par



ADELAIDE, Dec 28 AAP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed reports her government
has spent $15 billion to keep the Greens and the independents happy.

The report in The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday said the government had spent $65 for
every Australian to essentially keep her minority government in office.

The paper's online edition on Wednesday corrected this figure to $650 per person.

Ms Gillard said the report was simply wrong and included many of Labor's election promises.

"They don't call it the silly season for nothing," she told reporters in Adelaide.

"The report is wrong in the details that I've just described."

The Telegraph said the government's spending extended beyond deals struck after the
election, with Labor forced to extinguish political spot fires and buy votes for controversial
policies such as the carbon and mining taxes.

AAP tjd/tab

KEYWORD: SPENDING (REISSUING)

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