THE Coalition has confirmed it will not honour the $10 million pledged for the second half of a sports hub in Canberra promised by Labor because contracts between the University of Canberra and the federal government have not been signed.
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The Coalition could not be held responsible for election promises of the previous government, a spokesman for Regional Development Minister Warren Truss said.
This and other projects like it will be required to resubmit their applications.
''Labor recklessly and maliciously announced regional development projects all over the country in the lead up to and during the federal election in the full knowledge they could not deliver them,'' the spokesman said.
When finished, the sports hub at the University of Canberra was to include health research, training and administration facilities.
Work on the first stage is under way and will include a new headquarters for the Brumbies. Labor's $10 million pledge had been allocated in its budget under its regional development program but if the new application for the funding is submitted it will be assessed under the Coalition's National Stronger Regions fund.
The Coalition maintains its regional funding program is better because it is fully funded. It claimed Labor's program was a phantom - fuelled by money from the mineral resource rent tax that reaped $200 million in the past financial year, as opposed to the predicted $2 billion. The opposition's regional Australia spokeswoman, Catherine King, is highlighting projects such as the sports hub in an attempt to show a conflict between the city-based Liberals and the country and coastal-based Nationals.
''If the Nationals can't stand up for regional Australians, who can they stand up for?'' she said.
Based on previous reports, the $10 million in Labor funds would have made up about half the total cost of the hub.
Fraser MP Andrew Leigh said the project built on the best aspects of Canberra as a community of both ideas and sport.
''As a fitness fanatic, Tony Abbott knows the health benefits of sport,'' Mr Leigh said.
''I urge the Abbott government to yield to its better instincts and guarantee funding for this collaborative project.''
Mr Leigh's office believes at least one more project, a spectator amenity at Manuka Oval worth $500,000, is under a cloud because of the change of government.
