‘Government will not listen to Twitter’: Peter Dutton defends Bridget McKenzie over sports grants
Peter Dutton launches staunch defence of Bridget McKenzie, saying she doesn’t need to resign over sports grants scandal.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has declared embattled Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie does not need to stand aside, saying the government will not listen to Twitter and “hang people out to dry.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ordered an investigation by Australia’s top public servant into Senator McKenzie’s handling of the $100m sports grants program amid calls for her resignation over allegations of pork-barrelling and conflict of interest.
Mr Dutton told Sydney’s 2GB radio on Thursday that ministers needed to retain the right to make decisions and Senator McKenzie had “done exactly that.”
“It’s appropriate that the Prime Minister has made a reference to the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to have a look at this issue,” he said.
“We’re not hanging people out to dry, we’re not listening to the Twitter crazier. We are looking at the facts.
“If we jumped at opportunities to stand people down when I don’t think the case has been made, I think frankly we are giving up to the noisiest person on Twitter and I don’t agree with that.”
The investigation by cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens into whether she Senator McKenzie breached ministerial standards was announced as it emerged she had handed out nearly two-thirds of the $100 million in sports grants without seeing recommendations from the government agency managing the money.
The Prime Minister had dinner with Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at The Lodge on Wednesday night ahead of today’s indigenous peak bodies roundtable. The Australian understands there was growing momentum for Senator McKenzie to go but that she was pushing back.
Mr Dutton’s comments are the strongest public defence of the embattled National so far and he said he had been assured Senator McKenzie acted appropriately.
“If Bridget McKenzie has done the wrong thing or any of us has done the wrong thing, then there is a price to pay for that,” he told 2GB.
“But that’s not how I understand the facts. I’ve had a good look at this, I’ve spoken to Bridget about it … she has no personal gain or benefit whatsoever.”
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