________________________________________________JULIA Gillard is throwing ministers and money at the electorates of key independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott as the pair come under growing pressure over their decision to back Labor to form government.
For the second day in a row, a senior government minister is visiting Rob Oakeshott's NSW mid-north coast electorate to make a funding announcement.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon today announced a $96 million upgrade of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and said the investment would go towards more beds and services.
She said the government had committed to fund the upgrade as part of its agreement with Mr Oakeshott.
The announcement follows a visit by Regional Development Minister Simon Crean yesterday, when he opened a $6 million medical education centre at Taree.
Mr Windsor today also issued a media release revealing the Tamworth Hospital will receive $220 million in funding under the federal government's health and hospital fund, to be made available in the May budget.
Mr Crean yesterday fended off suggestions the government was pork-barrelling in independent-held seats, saying it wanted to improve outcomes across rural Australia.
But a search of press announcements reveals the extent to which Mr Oakeshott's electorate of Lyne and Mr Windsor's New England seat have been recent beneficiaries of government attention and funding.
They include a March 3 announcement of a new carriageway from Bulahdelah to Port Macquarie as part of a $3.6 billion roads upgrade.
On February 24, the Tamworth regional council - in Mr Windsor's seat - received a $150,000 federal government grant for extra street safety cameras.
Five days earlier, funding worth $366,000 for community care programs was announced for Mr Windsor's electorate.
The joint state-federal upgrade of Chaffey dam, worth $43 million, was welcomed by a "delighted" Mr Windsor on February 9.
Government ministers have also been generous with their time when dealing with the two regional independents, whose support is critical for the Gillard government maintaining power, but who have faced criticism in their traditionally conservative seats for backing Labor.
On February 17 Communications Minister Stephen Conroy held a summit at the University of New England, in Mr Windsor's seat, to outline the importance of the government's National Broadband Network.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet spoke at a land-use forum on February 17 conducted by Mr Oakeshott in Canberra; and Ms Roxon addressed a meeting of the Australian Rural Health Alliance with him on February 23 at Parliament House.
Cheesy Oakshott and Tony Windsor rejoice, Tony Windsor, the hypocrite who sold the family farm to a coal mining company though stood with Greens and protested against one other may be the key-independent who's support is crucial for getting Gillards carbon-tax past the lower house.