Bushfire Rorts: Coalition targets bushfire recovery funds for Coalition seats

The federal Labor electorate of Macquarie was devastated economically by the 2019-2020 bushfires. Macquarie comprises predominantly the state electorates of the Blue Mountains, held by Labor MP Trish Doyle, on a huge 64.9% two party preferred vote, and the state electorate of Hawkesbury, held by Liberal MP Robyn Preston.

At least 80% of the Blue Mountains world heritage area and more than 50% of its Gondwana world heritage rainforests were burned. An estimated 2,600 jobs and $560 million in turnover was lost. And according to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, the Blue Mountains economic loss was twice that of Hawkesbury’s – some $66 million compared to $33 million.

In the recent round of $177 million funding from the federal…