Dumped former sports minister Bridget McKenzie has hit back at allegations she politicised a $100 million sports grants scheme, telling an inquiry Prime Minister Scott Morrison was not involved in the awarding of taxpayer funds.

Facing a Senate committee reviewing the Coalition’s “sports rorts saga” for the first time, Senator McKenzie said she used her ministerial authority responsibly and appropriately, despite bruising findings by an Auditor-General’s inquiry.