Whistleblower takes a stand on being ‘silenced’ by Bridget McKenzie’s office staff
A whistleblower from Bridget McKenzie’s office has spoken out about being ‘silenced’ when concerns were raised about the sports grant scandal.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Exclusive: A whistleblower from embattled deputy leader Bridget McKenzie’s office was silenced when concerns were raised over the sports grant scandal, the involved party has revealed.
In an interview with Sky News, the whistleblower said they were met with the response of “this is how the minister wants to do it and we have to abide by that” when they raised their concerns.
Senator McKenzie has come under vast scrutiny and has been pressured to resign from her frontbench post after and an auditor-general report outlined a $100 million sports grant scheme, previously overseen by her, favoured marginal and targeted seats.
The whistleblower also made Sky News aware of a report commissioned from the Department of Health by the minister – at a $160,000 cost to the taxpayer – into the economic and social effects of shooting.
However, when handed down the report said “it is not possible to say from the data whether hunters and shooters have these attributes because they engage in hunting and shooting, or for another reason”.
When contacted, Senator McKenzie would not comment on “purported conversations between staff in her office” but did not deny the accuracy of the claims.
DEPUTY LEADER BRIDGET MCKENZIE UNDER FIRE
The National Party is split in their support of its embattled deputy leader Bridget McKenzie, as senior Liberals hosed down rumours of a cabinet reshuffle that could see her booted from cabinet.
It comes after the Senator McKenzie said yesterday she would not be resigning while an investigation determines if her handling of a sports grants program in her previous position as sport minister breached Ministerial standards.
The Australian reports it contacted about 10 Nationals and the party’s leader Michael McCormack was the only to respond and endorse Senator McKenzie remaining in parliament. Others warned her position as agriculture minister was untenable in the wake of the sports rorts scandal.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is investigating a damning auditor-general’s report that found a $100 million sports grant scheme previously overseen by Senator McKenzie favoured marginal and targeted seats.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to take whatever action is necessary after the investigation into Senator McKenzie is complete.
Appearing on the Today show this morning, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton rejected speculation that Mr Morrison was planning a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of the scandal.
“People have active social media accounts and I think they feel a need to refill them around reshuffles and the rest,” Mr Dutton told Today.
“You look at the process that Prime Minister has put in place for Bridget McKenzie the secretary for Prime Minister and Cabinet is looking at all the detail. He will report back over the weekend or early next week. I think that is the proper process.”
He added he did believe a case had been made for Senator McKenzie’s removal.
“We all make decisions in our portfolios. That is exactly what she has done. There was no funding provided to a project that wasn’t recommended,” he said.
PM UNDER FIRE AS MCKENZIE REJECTS RESIGNATION CLAIMS
Yesterday, speculation emerged that Senator McKenzie could resign from her position as early as Friday afternoon. But her office released a statement insisting that was not the case.
“The Minister is not resigning. She is actively engaging in the process and is confident there has not been a breach in Ministerial standards,” the statement said.
At a press conference, Mr Morrison refused to say if he believed Senator McKenzie should resign because he did not want to “prejudice” the investigation.
“I’m not going to prejudice the outcome of that report, I think that would be unfair to that process and to the secretary, I’ll let him do his job, and then I will look at that advice and take whatever action is necessary,” he said.
“I have allowed him to do that independently, I’m not putting any pressure on him one way or the other he needs to do his job, that’s why he’s there.
Sky News Political Editor @aclennell understands Bridget Mckenzie is being pushed to resign. His sources tell him she will go as early as tomorrow afternoon. #auspol
— David Sharaz (@DavidSharaz) January 23, 2020
“I have confidence and trust in his abilities.”
Mr Morrison referred the $100 million grants program last Friday to top public servant Philip Gaetjens to see if the former sports minister breached ministerial standards.
A damning auditor-general’s report found most of cash was spent in marginal seats before last year’s federal election.
Breaking: I’m very reliably informed Bridget McKenzie had dinner with the PM, Michael McCormack and Josh Frydenberg last night. She is almost certainly gone. Will likely announce tomorrow at latest is my mail... #auspol
— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) January 23, 2020
Senator McKenzie’s awarding of $35,980 to the Wangaratta clay target club under the program when she was a member of the organisation will also be scrutinised.
The report found Senator McKenzie ignored Sport Australia’s advice on which organisations should get grants, with 73 per cent of the projects not recommended by the agency.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is trying to tighten the screws on Senator McKenzie and link the scandal to Mr Morrison’s office.
“This abuse is rank. It stinks more than a bucket of prawn heads that you left out on a hot day like today. The stench goes all the way up to the government,” he said.
“Bridget McKenzie needs to resign and there needs to be full transparency about which applications were successful, which applications weren’t, where they ranked, what the process was behind this scandal.”
PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MCKENZIE
Earlier, the pressure on Senator McKenzie intensified after it emerged she awarded a $36,000 grant to a Victorian shooting club she is a member of in February Senator McKenzie failed to disclose she was a member of the club when her register of interests was last updated on November 21.
A spokeswoman for Senator McKenzie said the Wangaratta Clay Target Club membership was a gift worth less than $300, making a declaration to the Senate unnecessary.
“Round-two funding became available in December 2018 at MYEFO and funding decisions were made from that time,” the spokeswoman said.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese ramped up calls for the minister to be dumped.
“This is a rort. Bridget McKenzie must resign – and if she won’t, Scott Morrison must sack her,” he said.
But Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is looking at legal questions raised by the auditor-general, defended having ministerial oversight on grant programs.
“What I fundamentally don’t accept is that ministers should not be involved in final approval for projects. That’s their job,” he told 6PR radio.
He said his Perth electorate, which was a marginal seat before the election, received three grants under the scheme.
Health Minister Greg Hunt was unable to explain why a pony club in his electorate needed a $30,000 grant two years after receiving $8000.
A video on social media also shows a yacht club member in his electorate thanking Mr Hunt after the organisation received more than $170,000 through the scheme.
“Thanks Sports Australia and your office in particular because I know there’s been a little bit of work behind-the-scenes on your behalf to support our club and thank you very much for that,” a club member said to Mr Hunt.
The minister made no apology for “advocating for projects” in his electorate and said there was no reason for Senator McKenzie to resign.
Originally published as Whistleblower takes a stand on being ‘silenced’ by Bridget McKenzie’s office staff
Albo’s grovelling apology after Tourette’s slur
Anthony Albaneses has issued a grovelling apology after he was slammed for suggesting a political opponent had Tourette’s syndrome.
Proof it’s a good time to be a homebuyer
A pause in rate hikes has helped give buyers confidence as new home listings reach a record, almost-10-year high.