The Deputy Prime Minister is under fire for handing out almost a million dollars in community grants to projects in his own electorate.
Mark Vaile's accused of bypassing the screening process for the regional projects to fast track approval for the projects.
Shadow Regional Development Minister Simon Crean says it's nothing short of corrupt.
“You can’t do it that way, it’s public money. This is not national party money, not the Liberal party’s money, it’s public money.”
“Public money if it’s to be spent has to go through a proper process, this has avoided that process.”
Mr Rudd says the Government’s rorting of the scheme shows it has no credibility left on economic management.
“I say to Mr Howard, this is Tax Payers’ money, it should be invested wisely in the long-term needs of the country and the community, not in a short-term political fix just to buy political office”
