Morrison government’s $7.4bn in dam commitments could be ‘biggest pork barrel in history’

The Morrison government's promise to spend $7.4bn building a series of new dams is probably "the biggest pork barrel in history," says the author of new research that claims other investment would deliver significantly better economic outcomes and more jobs.

The report by the Australia Institute said the vast majority of new spending on water infrastructure had been "allocated to where the National party vote is highest, not where the agricultural potential is highest".

It compared the economic impact of spending $5.4bn Hells Gates dam - a project where funding was committed before a business case was finalised - with the benefits of investing the same amount in aged care.

Investment in aged care would create 48,000 jobs, compared to about 28,000 from the dam, the report found.

"Pouring concrete creates jobs," said chief economist at the Australia Institute and the report's co-author, Dr Richard Denniss.

"But it only helps the economy if it's in the right shape and in the right place. You could build carparks in the desert and create jobs, but they just won't be of any use."

The research questioned why - if the dam investment was designed to benefit the agricultural sector - most of the $7.4bn water infrastructure spending was allocated to projects in north Queensland, which contributes about 3% of the nation's food production.