The issue of funding transcends partisan politics and demands...

The issue of funding transcends partisan politics and demands impartiality and accountability so that funding can be directed on the basis of actual community needs, not political advantage. You are correct. There are significant disparities between the infrastructure, social and economic requirements of rural and metropolitan regions. The evaluation of rural projects identified their unique circumstances. Hence the Regional fund was established. But unfortunately if you examine the distribution of the funds, you will have difficulty explaining how outer Sydney qualifies. This allocation was at the expense of a genuine need. There are others.

Similarly, tourism, infrastructure and a myriad of government funding sources sought to address specific funding needs for communities that might not otherwise been available for a myriad of reasons. Is it then acceptable to divert these funds elsewhere for political expediency? There are consequences and the behaviour cannot continue unchecked.