ABC: Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten scramble to announce more than $200m to save Kakadu National Park
Publish Date:
13th January 2019
The 2019 federal election campaign has kicked off with a political football in the Northern Territory, as both major parties scramble to announce $220 million for Kakadu National Park.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison touched down on the edge of the national park on Sunday where he offered a lifeline to the struggling Territory township of Jabiru.
Mr Morrison's 11th-hour rush to the tropical north was to announce a $216 million package to help Jabiru and the Canberra-controlled national park in an apparent bid to beat his opponent Bill Shorten to the glory.
Mr Shorten's Labor team was scheduled to arrive in the NT Sunday evening and make a similar announcement for $220 million for Kakadu.
In Jabiru, Mr Morrison detailed the Coalition's election pledge to help rejuvenate the region, which included $70 million to upgrade roads to Kakadu tourist sites, $40 million to upgrade campground infrastructure and up to $60 million to "support the development of an Indigenous-led Kakadu visitor centre in Jabiru".