John Barilaro says all governments engage in ‘pork barrelling’

Pork barelling is part of the “democratic process” and “what elections are for,” Deputy Premier John Barilaro has sensationally declared.

Buying votes is part of the “democratic process” and “what elections are for,” Deputy Premier John Barilaro has sensationally declared.

In a stunning defence against claims a $252 million government grants program was used as a Coalition slush fund, Mr Barilaro said “what we call pork barrelling is investment”.

Mr Barilaro made the comments while giving evidence to a parliamentary inquiry probing government grants programs.

“In one way when you think about it, every single election that every party goes to, we make commitments,” he said.

“You want to call that pork barrelling, you want to call that buying votes, that’s what the elections are for, it’s the democratic process, something I’m very proud of.”

John Barilaro is giving evidence to a parliamentary inquiry probing government grants programs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

He said past governments “of all colours and persuasions” have engaged in what can be described as “pork barrelling”.

“If people want to cut out election promises well I’m happy to hold all those parties to account,” he said.

Mr Barliaro said the Stronger Communities Fund “was administered by the Office of Local Government,” and all but two grants were approved by that office’s CEO.

However a parliamentary inquiry has heard that documents were provided to Premier Gladys Berejiklian asking her to approve millions of dollars in money for Coalition seats.

After those documents went to the Premier, they were later shredded, in a process found to be a breach of record keeping laws.

Asked whether he was concerned that documents were shredded, Mr Barilaro said: “absolutely”.

“You say documents have been shredded, that does not give confidence to anybody,” he said.

Mr Barilaro also took a veiled swipe at the Premier by insisting that his office doesn’t shred documents.

“What happens in the Premier’s office is up to the Premier’s office records management processes, but I think there’s lessons for everybody,” he said.