Sporting clubs who missed ‘essential’ funding through ‘sports rorts’ scandal back inquiry findings

Clubs that learned they missed out on millions in the Morrison Government pork-barrelling scandal have seized on a scathing inquiry.

Coromandel Valley Cricket Club players Matt Smith and Colin Farrell at the shelter that is their A.R. Benson Pavillion club rooms at Waymouth Oval. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Frustrated sports clubs that missed out on funding as part of the federal government’s “sports rorts” scandal hope a damning inquiry will result in them receiving the money they say they deserve.

Presidents of the 12 South Australian clubs that didn’t get funded, despite being recommended for grants by Sport Australia, say it would have dramatically improved their facilities.

The scandal has re-erupted over the findings of a Labor-led Senate inquiry into former sports minister Bridget McKenzie’s handling of the Community Sport Infrastructure Grants program.

The inquiry recommended the Federal Government “immediately” fund high-scoring projects under Sport Australia’s points system in full.

But Liberal senator Eric Abetz and Nationals senator Matt Canavan said the program – administered by Senator McKenzie, who was forced to resign – was an “outstanding success”.

The pair said the inquiry was a “highly politicised and weaponised exercise” and the hearings were “a charade”.

Coromandel Valley Ramblers Cricket Club applied for a grant to build new clubrooms. The club was snubbed, despite scoring 90 out of 100 in the points system. President Matt Smith said funding would make “a world of difference”.

Building work at the Echunga Netball Club in January 2020. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We were building change­rooms and a public toilet, which would replace an existing toilet block that does not have disabled access,” he said.

“We have got some money from the State Government, but we’re still just a fraction short. We’ll make up the money through further fundraising, or by scaling back the design.”

Echunga Netball Club applied for $40,000 to complete important works on clubrooms and fencing. However, the money, says president Carolyn Downing, had to be mainly funded by the club’s members and donors.

“We still haven’t been able to reinstate all of the fence around the courts,” she said.

“We had the support of the local council but we still owe about $10,000, so getting the funding (would) help pay back that debt.”

Adelaide Hills Hawks Soccer Club was forced to hire facilities at Mount Barker after the $27,800 they expected for lighting upgrades to their Woodside home ground never arrived. President Dan Butler said the grant would bring teams for training and games at Woodside.