Australian government official plans spend added $3 million for cochlear implants for kids and adults

From Yahoo7:

New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally is adamant she is feeling energised in the first day of official state election campaigning.

The official race for the March 26 election began at midnight, when the government officially moved into caretaker mode.

Ms Keneally's enthusiasm comes despite another horror opinion poll for Labor.

A Galaxy poll released this morning has primary support for the ALP languishing around 23 per cent.

Based on the poll result the government could retain just 16 of the state's 93 Lower House seats.

"I'm feeling energised," Ms Keneally said.

Ms Keneally was again campaigning in western Sydney today, to promise a re-elected Labor Government will boost funding for cochlear hearing implants by $3 million.

That will fund an extra 53 child and 25 adult implants.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell's focus was also wooing Sydney's west as he unveiled a $100 million roads package.

Projects funded under the package include $20 million towards the Victoria Bridge upgrade at Penrith and $25 million to replace the Windsor Bridge.

"This is a State Labor Government that's failed to match growth with investment in road systems even here in western Sydney," Mr O'Farrell said.

On the opinion poll Mr O'Farrell maintained the straight bat he has played to numerous polls heavily favouring the Coalition.

"Polls will tighten but what today's poll reflects is that the public are going to use an election as it should be used, to hold the government to account," he said.

The Greens today unveiled a plan to revive the state's rooftop solar panel scheme.

The original initiative was so popular it had to be cut back because of a funding shortfall.

Greens candidate for Balmain Jamie Parker says his party wants to make the scheme more sustainable.

"Our approach is the boost the solar bonus rate to a sustainable 35 cents per kilowatt hour," Mr Parker said.

"The solar industry here in New South Wales has been devastated by the boom bust cycle that was introduced after the New South Wales Government introduced a 60 cent bonus and then reduced it to 20."