Wilkie warns against ALP pork barrelling INDEPENDENT federal MP Andrew Wilkie has warned against spending promises by Labor if it targets his seat of Denison. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has named the Hobart-based electorate as winnable for the ALP despite Mr Wilkie's strong favouritism to retain it. The independent narrowly won the seat on preferences in 2010 after it had been in Labor's hands for 23 years. Mr Wilkie's powerful position in the hung parliament helped him negotiate hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in the seat and that has been reflected in his polling. "It's hardly surprising the ALP is targeting Denison considering I hold it by a slim margin," he said in a statement to AAP. Robust electoral contests are healthy and there is every chance that Labor will make some large spending promises if they are serious about trying to win the seat. Denison suffered from decades of federal government neglect when it was represented by Labor. But that has been turned around with almost $1 billion in extra federal government investment flowing into Tasmania and the electorate in the three years since I was elected. Mr Wilkie, who pulled his support for Julia Gillard's government over a poker machine reform backdown, has ruled out a deal with any party before or after the election. "I'll put pressure on whichever party wins government to honour all their election promises in Denison," he said.