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Updated March 09, 2017 14:42:51

A public stoush has broken out between WA Government alliance partners the Nationals and Liberals over regional funding, less than 48 hours before voters go to the polls.

The WA Liberals are keen to push their financial credentials, but the WA Nationals today dropped a bombshell by lashing out at the Liberals' plan to cut regional spending under the Royalties for Regions program.

On Wednesday the Liberals' election costings revealed funds from the scheme would be shifted to meet recurrent costs of regional programs to save $800 million over two years.

The money would be used for operating regional infrastructure that was previously funded through consolidated revenue.

Nationals leader Brendan Grylls said the promise was "based on a massive 40 per cent cut to Royalties for Regions".

He told ABC Perth Radio the Liberals had taken a "blunt machete" to the program.

"I will not be a part of the gutting of the Royalties for Regions program," he said.

"We will fight until our last political breath to ensure that (Treasurer) Mike Nahan and (Premier) Colin Barnett cannot implement this plan.

"We look forward to the voters signalling to Labor and Liberals that their plans are unacceptable."

It deepens the fractures that have emerged between the alliance and puts their key election promises at odds.

"This is now a critical moment in this election campaign for regional voters," Mr Grylls said.

"This is now a fight to save Royalties for Regions. I am happy to be in it."

But Mr Barnett said the Liberals would "set the agenda" and remained committed to changing Royalties for Regions.

He said the Liberals' position would not prevent them forming government with the Nationals after the election.

"Because we are the Liberal Government, and if we are elected, we will form government," Mr Barnett said.

"And we will invite the National party to be part of that, but we are the major party and we will set the agenda."

Mr Barnett defended the proposed shift in Royalties for Region funding from new projects to recurrent funding for existing facilities and services.

"Everything we have committed to will be honoured but in the out years, so years three and four of next term we are going to make some adjustments," he said.

Mr Barnett said the major new regional projects had been largely completed, but money to maintain them was now needed.

"So where Royalties for Regions funding goes into an area we will help, not only to build the facility but also help to maintain it and operate it," he said.

"The Royalties for Regions money will still 100 per cent exist and 100 per cent go into country and regional Western Australia, but we're going to fund it in a better way.

"We've done the catch up job and it is fantastic and we are going to continue that project."

Topics: elections, state-parliament, regional-development, regional, nationals, liberals, wa

First posted March 09, 2017 14:21:06

Continued here:
WA Election: Royalties for Regions stoush between Nationals and Liberals on election eve - ABC Online