The WA Liberal opposition will ask WA Auditor General Colin Murphy to investigate a $39 million government spending program described as a slush fund that was allocated almost exclusively to Labor seats.
Of about $24 million in taxpayer funds reportedly allocated in the Local Projects, Local Jobs program so far, just $1.5 million had gone to three Liberal seats Labor regarded as winnable at the WA election last March.
None has gone to safe Liberal seats.
Opposition shadow treasurer Dean Nalder compared the program unfavourably to the "sports rorts affair" of the 1990s.
Then Labor Sports Minister Ros Kelly was forced out of her job over $30 million worth of sports grants that weren't properly distributed.
Mr Nalder claims that the Local Projects, Local Jobs program is a vote buying exercise using taxpayer's money.
The funds have gone to various community groups, sports clubs and schools but were not grants made publicly available to be applied for.
Mr Nalder claimed he had been told of clubs that had money in their own bank accounts that were given public funds that they had not asked for, although he would not name them.
"This smells and looks like a rort and reeks of grand level pork barrelling," he told reporters.
"I want the auditor general to investigate this matter, we will provide the auditor general with the information we have and will await the findings to ensure that there has been proper processes and procedural fairness.
"This is taxpayer's money, it's not the Labor Party's money, it's not the local members money and any government has a responsibility to ensure that that money is spent wisely and according to due process."
Premier Mark McGowan rejected the criticism, saying the commitments were made as election promises when the Barnett government was still in power and half of those seats were Liberal held.
"I am very proud we are delivering on our election commitments, it is an important program delivering projects across the state where local communities are very happy with it," he told reporters.
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