This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/feb/27/coalition-labor-morrison-sports-rorts-inquiry-labor-politics-live
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sports rorts back in the spotlight after PM drawn further into controversy – politics live | Sports rorts back in the spotlight after PM drawn further into controversy – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sport Australia will front the Senate inquiry as the government maintains it did nothing wrong with its sports grant program. All the day’s events, live | Sport Australia will front the Senate inquiry as the government maintains it did nothing wrong with its sports grant program. All the day’s events, live |
| The parliament has passed a bill changing how welfare recipients report their income. | |
| From AAP: | |
| This explanation is not going to age well. | |
| Katy Gallagher has asked Sport Australia when Bridget McKenzie’s office sent back the final list of her decisions on round three of grant funding. | |
| A brief went from Sport Australia to McKenzie on 4 April 2019, the prime minister’s office gave some feedback on 10 April, and Luke McCann replies that McKenzie’s final decision came through at 8:46am on 11 April 2019. | |
| Gallagher suggests that parliament was dissolved at 8:30am and “we were in caretaker at that point in time”. McCann says he was not aware of this. | |
| John Wylie says he won’t comment on the “legal basis” minister Bridget McKenzie used to award the grants. | |
| The auditor general wrote in its report that it was “unclear” what the legal basis was. | |
| Wylie says he won’t comment on the minister’s legal basis, but he is confident that Sports Australia acted appropriately. | |
| Eric Abetzis probing how 272 projects were assessed as eligible by Sport Australia but then became ineligible by the time funding agreements were signed. | Eric Abetzis probing how 272 projects were assessed as eligible by Sport Australia but then became ineligible by the time funding agreements were signed. |
| Luke McCann suggests that although eligibility criteria stated work must not have commenced, applicants were confused about the “interpretation of commencement”. | Luke McCann suggests that although eligibility criteria stated work must not have commenced, applicants were confused about the “interpretation of commencement”. |
| He suggested that if the audit office took a “very narrow interpretation” even seeking a development approval may result in a project being ineligible. | He suggested that if the audit office took a “very narrow interpretation” even seeking a development approval may result in a project being ineligible. |
| But McCann then conceded he didn’t know how the ANAO assessed 272 projects were ineligible (43%). Clubs were “explicitly advised” they should not commence work until an agreement was signed, and this was defined as “undertaking of any activities that contribute to physical upgrades ... this includes site clearing, earth works, building works, or any form of early works”. | But McCann then conceded he didn’t know how the ANAO assessed 272 projects were ineligible (43%). Clubs were “explicitly advised” they should not commence work until an agreement was signed, and this was defined as “undertaking of any activities that contribute to physical upgrades ... this includes site clearing, earth works, building works, or any form of early works”. |
| This doesn’t sound like a DA would make a project ineligible. Nevertheless, Abetz summarises that this sounds like “technicalities at their absolute worst” being used to describe projects as ineligible. | This doesn’t sound like a DA would make a project ineligible. Nevertheless, Abetz summarises that this sounds like “technicalities at their absolute worst” being used to describe projects as ineligible. |
| There was an interesting short exchange in the hearing that reflects the different starting points of Sports Australia and the minister. | There was an interesting short exchange in the hearing that reflects the different starting points of Sports Australia and the minister. |
| The Liberal senator Eric Abetz has been trying to set up an argument that Bridget McKenzie had discretion to approve these sports grants under criteria she considered important. | The Liberal senator Eric Abetz has been trying to set up an argument that Bridget McKenzie had discretion to approve these sports grants under criteria she considered important. |
| Abetz asked the Sports Australia chairman John Wylie whether he thought it would have been fair if 20% of electorates had missed out on money. Wylie said distribution of funds across electorates wasn’t a consideration for bureaucrats engaged in a merit selection process. | Abetz asked the Sports Australia chairman John Wylie whether he thought it would have been fair if 20% of electorates had missed out on money. Wylie said distribution of funds across electorates wasn’t a consideration for bureaucrats engaged in a merit selection process. |
| Considering what’s going to to particular electorates is “not our job”, Wylie notes | Considering what’s going to to particular electorates is “not our job”, Wylie notes |
| Then there was this gem from Richard Colbeck: | Then there was this gem from Richard Colbeck: |
| And the actual transcript from the committee hearing where the auditor general’s office DID correct Eric Abetz: | And the actual transcript from the committee hearing where the auditor general’s office DID correct Eric Abetz: |
| Eric Abetz: Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that. The next issue I seek to clarify: you found that no ineligible project or application was funded? | Eric Abetz: Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that. The next issue I seek to clarify: you found that no ineligible project or application was funded? |
| Brian Boyd: | Brian Boyd: |
| Sport Australia has explained why Bridget McKenzie approved late applications for a number of projects, and for the most part it’s because they had won state government funding but needed federal funding as well. | Sport Australia has explained why Bridget McKenzie approved late applications for a number of projects, and for the most part it’s because they had won state government funding but needed federal funding as well. |
| Luke McCann explained: | Luke McCann explained: |
| Katanning Country club: the Western Australian state government indicated support if it received federal funding. | Katanning Country club: the Western Australian state government indicated support if it received federal funding. |
| Westbury bowling club: the club was unable to utilise the green for six months of the year due to drainage, which was “not viable for club in a small town”. The club would close which would be “devastating on the community”. | Westbury bowling club: the club was unable to utilise the green for six months of the year due to drainage, which was “not viable for club in a small town”. The club would close which would be “devastating on the community”. |
| Belgrave reserve netball: had grown exponentially and the minister believed the project was “vital to the continuation of the club”. | Belgrave reserve netball: had grown exponentially and the minister believed the project was “vital to the continuation of the club”. |
| Yeppoon swans: had concrete cancer in their light poles, they needed to remove lights, and without a grant their fields would be unusable except in daylight. | Yeppoon swans: had concrete cancer in their light poles, they needed to remove lights, and without a grant their fields would be unusable except in daylight. |
| Nagambie foreshore walk: the Victorian state government would contribute majority if federal government supported it. | Nagambie foreshore walk: the Victorian state government would contribute majority if federal government supported it. |
| Pennant Hills AFL: got $1m from NSW state government but the project wouldn’t proceed without federal government funding. | Pennant Hills AFL: got $1m from NSW state government but the project wouldn’t proceed without federal government funding. |
| Eric Abetz is now asking questions. | Eric Abetz is now asking questions. |
| It was the Liberal senator’s questioning at the last hearing which revealed that almost half of the projects funded by the program were ineligible under the rules, by the time the minister’s office granted funding. | It was the Liberal senator’s questioning at the last hearing which revealed that almost half of the projects funded by the program were ineligible under the rules, by the time the minister’s office granted funding. |
| Fantastic. Great move. Well done Eric. | Fantastic. Great move. Well done Eric. |
| Chair John Wylie says it’s the view of Sports Australia that Bridget McKenzie was the decision-maker, under the rules. | Chair John Wylie says it’s the view of Sports Australia that Bridget McKenzie was the decision-maker, under the rules. |
| Of the 2,000 applications made, 1,300 clubs missed out. | Of the 2,000 applications made, 1,300 clubs missed out. |
| John Wylie, chair of Sports Australia, said it showed “due stewardship” of the community sports infrastructure grant program by raising risks with the minister (Bridget McKenzie’s) office. | John Wylie, chair of Sports Australia, said it showed “due stewardship” of the community sports infrastructure grant program by raising risks with the minister (Bridget McKenzie’s) office. |
| So far chief operating officer Luke McCann has given two instances of Sports Australia’s Robin O’Neil raising concerns: | So far chief operating officer Luke McCann has given two instances of Sports Australia’s Robin O’Neil raising concerns: |
| First on 5 December 2018 he “outlined risks with the methodology and process, in terms of the approval process”; | First on 5 December 2018 he “outlined risks with the methodology and process, in terms of the approval process”; |
| And on 5 March 2019 he raised concerns that McKenzie’s office had asked for an application form after applications had closed. | And on 5 March 2019 he raised concerns that McKenzie’s office had asked for an application form after applications had closed. |
| Rob Dalton, acting chief executive officer, says Sports Australia was “comfortable risks were managed because we communicated them”. | Rob Dalton, acting chief executive officer, says Sports Australia was “comfortable risks were managed because we communicated them”. |
| Witnesses take on notice (1) if they can provide written minutes of its audit and risk committee and (2) whether the minister’s office responded to the above concerns. | Witnesses take on notice (1) if they can provide written minutes of its audit and risk committee and (2) whether the minister’s office responded to the above concerns. |
| Everyone repeats that the minister is the decision-maker, it’s not Sports Australia’s job to monitor how decisions are made. | Everyone repeats that the minister is the decision-maker, it’s not Sports Australia’s job to monitor how decisions are made. |
| Speaking of the ABC, Lucy Barbour, a very excellent regional and rural affair reporter with the broadcaster, had a story this morning with Pat Conaghan calling for a raise to Newstart. | Speaking of the ABC, Lucy Barbour, a very excellent regional and rural affair reporter with the broadcaster, had a story this morning with Pat Conaghan calling for a raise to Newstart. |
| The Cowper Nationals MP (mid-north coast NSW) has looked around and seen the growing poverty in his electorate and told Barbour it is beyond time the rate (basically $280 a week, a figure which has not changed in real terms for two decades) was raised. | The Cowper Nationals MP (mid-north coast NSW) has looked around and seen the growing poverty in his electorate and told Barbour it is beyond time the rate (basically $280 a week, a figure which has not changed in real terms for two decades) was raised. |
| Conaghan has a fan in Acoss CEO Cassandra Goldie: | Conaghan has a fan in Acoss CEO Cassandra Goldie: |
| Queensland LNP senator James McGrath, who is in a deadlocked battle with Amanda Stoker for the LNP’s Liberal Senate spot, is continuing his battle against the ABC. | Queensland LNP senator James McGrath, who is in a deadlocked battle with Amanda Stoker for the LNP’s Liberal Senate spot, is continuing his battle against the ABC. |
| The pair are attempting to out-conservative each other, as they fight for the number one spot on the ticket. The number two spot goes to a National. The number three spot is never guaranteed. So, in the grand tradition of Queensland sending young-fogies to Canberra, senator ‘I don’t know what the youth are into’ McGrath, is waging war against the national broadcaster. | The pair are attempting to out-conservative each other, as they fight for the number one spot on the ticket. The number two spot goes to a National. The number three spot is never guaranteed. So, in the grand tradition of Queensland sending young-fogies to Canberra, senator ‘I don’t know what the youth are into’ McGrath, is waging war against the national broadcaster. |
| It has taken a while (there was a very long introduction) but we have the first revelation. | It has taken a while (there was a very long introduction) but we have the first revelation. |
| Sports Australia first raised concerns to Bridget McKenzie’s office on 5 March (before the election, but when one was very much on the cards). | Sports Australia first raised concerns to Bridget McKenzie’s office on 5 March (before the election, but when one was very much on the cards). |
| Sports minister Richard Colbeck was asked about a North Sydney pool receiving $10m from a fund earmarked for regional facilities (so many Nationals will be just THRILLED to learn North Sydney is now regional). | Sports minister Richard Colbeck was asked about a North Sydney pool receiving $10m from a fund earmarked for regional facilities (so many Nationals will be just THRILLED to learn North Sydney is now regional). |
| He told the ABC: | He told the ABC: |
| (Also, points to anyone who could point out Colbeck in a lineup. No one does ‘generic middle aged white guy’ quite like the Australian parliament.) | (Also, points to anyone who could point out Colbeck in a lineup. No one does ‘generic middle aged white guy’ quite like the Australian parliament.) |
| Just a reminder, given that it is technically #tbt – this entire sports grant affair was referred to the auditor general by Labor because someone thought it would be a great idea to allow Georgina Downer to present a giant novelty cheque with her face on it, to a sports club, while she was just a candidate. | Just a reminder, given that it is technically #tbt – this entire sports grant affair was referred to the auditor general by Labor because someone thought it would be a great idea to allow Georgina Downer to present a giant novelty cheque with her face on it, to a sports club, while she was just a candidate. |
| Sports Australia is up today. | Sports Australia is up today. |
| Featured are: | Featured are: |
| John Wylie, chair | John Wylie, chair |
| Robert Dalton, acting chief executive officer | Robert Dalton, acting chief executive officer |
| Luke McCann, chief operating officer | Luke McCann, chief operating officer |