> I always find it amusing when people compare pork barrelling amounts as "only" or "mere". "It was only 5 billion".

It was 5 billion over ten years compared with nearly 5 billion each year.

When you do that comparisons it is a mere 5 billion.

Now I'm not arguing that governments should be propping up sectors with pork barrelling. That is something for the electorate to decide.

However, the current government always claimed they had to stop propping up the car industry, because governments should not be in the business of handing out subsidies.

That government statement is disingenuous and total hypocrisy, since they will not be removing those coal, oil and mining subsides any time soon.