The government’s handling of the Drought Communities Program was as “blatant a rort” as the sports grants scandal, according to Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon.
Bridget McKenzie is facing fresh scrutiny over her handling of the government grant program after Sky News revealed she signed off on six grants to councils which did not meet the eligibility criteria. A spokesperson for the Agriculture Minister said all 14 councils in question met one or both criteria.
But Ms McKenzie’s shadow counterpart told Sky News this was consistent with the government’s “pattern of behaviour”. “The government, in the lead up to the election, was in trouble in a number of seats … rather than making the criteria more generous and bringing in more towns indiscriminately – they decided no we’ll put in a discretion so we only have to spend the money in the seats we need to win to secure an election victory, ” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
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