A Queensland pub chain half-owned by supermarket giant Coles received almost $10 million in taxpayer subsidies for a training program that just 96 staff completed, in new evidence of widespread wastage in a Coalition scheme that cost taxpayers $5.8 billion.

Queensland Venue Co – a joint venture between hospitality giant Australian Venue Co and Coles – enrolled 438 trainees in the Morrison government-era Boosting Apprenticeships Commencement Program.