Darren Chester refuses to publicly support Bridget McKenzie

Darren Chester claims it would be ‘churlish’ for him to discuss Bridget McKenzie’s role as he may replace her.

Darren Chester (R) with Michael McCormack and Bridget McKenzie. Picture: Kym Smith.

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester has refused to publicly support embattled Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie, saying it would be “churlish” for him to discuss her role as he is being talked up as her replacement.

The Victorian National MP refused several times on Wednesday morning to back Senator McKenzie. 

The Nationals deputy is under more pressure to resign following ABC reports that her office had created a colour-coded spreadsheet of potential sports grant program by what electorate they were in.

Mr Chester told ABC radio that Senator McKenzie was his friend but that he would not answer whether he was supporting her because he may benefit politically from her removal. 

“I think it’s poor taste for me to be talking about Bridget’s role when she is still in the role,” he said.

“The process underway is by the Prime Minister and I’ll let that continue.

“The problem here is that I’m being talked as someone who might replace her so it would be fairly churlish about to talk about Bridget, whether she has my support or not.

“She’s a friend of mine. If I say one thing, you’ll say I’m standing by a friend. If I say another, you’ll say I’m after a new job.”

Mr Chester – an ally of Nationals leader Michael McCormack – is a strong contender to take the vacant Nationals spot if Senator McKenzie is forced out over the alleged sports rort scandal.

Mr McCormack is refusing to guarantee the position of Senator McKenzie, declaring he will have to “wait and see” the outcome of an investigation into her management of a controversial federal sports grants scheme.

Labor seized on the ABC report on Tuesday that Sport Australia executive director Robin O’Neill had written to Senator McKenzie before the election warning the agency’s independence was being compromised by her handling of the program.

While a roller derby upgrade in Mr Chester’s safe seat reportedly did not receive a grant despite receiving a 98 out of 100 rating from Sport Australia, a football club in the marginal Liberal seat of La Trobe received a $500,000 grant with a score of just 50 out of 100.

When asked about the fallout in his own electorate from the sports grant scandal, Mr Chester said ministers needed leeway to make decisions, but politicians had to address the “trust deficit” in politics.

“There’s a need to give the public confidence in the transparency of how these grants are applied,” he told ABC radio.

“The greatest deficit we have in Australian politics has nothing to do with the budget, it’s a deficit between us and the people we represent.

“Australians want and every right to see more transparency … it’s like the justice system, it’s not just a matter of justice being done, it needs to be seen to be done.”