BREAKING: Bridget McKenzie is facing fresh scrutiny amid concerns further government grants under her watch were awarded to councils which did not meet eligibility requirements. aclennell
Bridget McKenzie is facing fresh scrutiny amid concerns further government grants under her watch were awarded to councils which did not meet eligibility requirements. Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said Ms McKenzie signed off on six Drought Communities Program grants to councils which did not meet the eligibility criteria. A drought grant was reportedly awarded to La Trobe Council despite only 2.92 per cent of the population being employed in the agriculture industry.
In a Senate Estimates exchange in October 2019, Department of Infrastructure's Diana Hallam said the 14 drought grants did not meet requirements. A spokesman for the Agriculture Minister said all 14 councils in question met one or both criteria. “Any decision to approve council areas as eligible for the Drought Communities Program is set out in the guidelines and involves consultation between the Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources,” he said.
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