Yet Mr Prescott's new policy is unlikely to yield enough money for infrastructure projects of that scale.

ECONOMIST: Transport

The only new policy initiatives in Mr Howard's key note policy speech 10 days before the polls offered more money on an anti-drugs campaign and for pensioners and tax breaks for parents who stay at home to raise their children.

BBC: Australia's 'empty' economic agenda

Although it does not advocate a new referendum now, it will demand concessions from the national government for greater control over social and economic policy, along with the money to fund new projects.

ECONOMIST: Quebec��s election

As it has with new markets ranging from biotechnology to the Internet, government would help to create the underlying policy infrastructure and science that leads to new markets, without spending big money to subsidize the industry itself.

FORBES: Why "Green Jobs" Don't Belong in Obama's Jobs Program

And confusingly the Tory policy is not technically "fiscal stimulus" as it does not involve new Government money being injected into the economy.

BBC: Tax cuts: just one piece of the jigsaw

The new policy will not affect existing school pupils, the council said, and added the money saved would be going back into local education.

BBC: children on school bus

In a major policy speech on his education initiatives, Bradley charged that Gore wants to spend more new money on defense than on improving the nation's schools.

CNN: Bradley unveils $8 billion school reform plan