From the Treasurer's office this morning:

"The Federal Government will provide a total of $10 million towards two key projects on Hepburn Avenue, Treasurer Peter Costello announced today.

The Federal funding of $10 million will be allocated as follows :

* $5 million to the City of Wanneroo towards their Hepburn Avenue Upgrade project, that will upgrade Hepburn Avenue to four-lane dual carriageway standard from Bellerive Boulevard to Alexander Drive. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $6.765 million; and
* $5 million to the City of Swan towards their Hepburn Avenue Extension project, that will ultimately deliver an extension of Hepburn Avenue from Alexander Drive, where it currently ends, to the Reid Highway. The cost of Stage 1 of this project is estimated to be $9.4 million."

(source: Treasurer's website)

Let's read this paragraph a little further on:

I wish to particularly acknowledge the tireless representations of Luke Simpkins, Liberal Candidate for Cowan, to secure this commitment for the benefit of the local community, and the entire region.

Hmm. Cowan is a marginal Labor seat (0.8% according to Antony Green). Graham Edwards is the outgoing member, Liz Prime is the Labor candidate.

So why, pray tell, is the Treasurer including an partisan endorsement for a local candidate, who is not the current member, in a Government press release?

Answer, of course: government-funded Liberal Party electioneering. Not all of it is this clumsy.