Scott Morrison staffer ‘wrong on grant call’
The Prime Minister’s office has admitted an electoral officer erred in saying an $8400 grant came from Scott Morrison.
The Prime Minister’s office has admitted an electoral officer erred in saying an $8400 grant to the Cronulla Sailing Club came from Scott Morrison.
In a video posted online on Wednesday, a representative of the club thanks the staffer, referred to her as “Scott Morrison’s PA”, for pushing for the club’s grant. The staffer replies: “It’s not me who gives you the money, it’s ScoMo, so vote Liberal come May … because if you don’t I don’t have a job.”
A spokesman for Mr Morrison said: “The staff member regrets her comment and apologises, but all our ministers, members, senators and staff are proud of how a program our government initiated has supported local communities across every Liberal, Labor, National, Greens and independent electorate.
“All applications are appropriately independently assessed by the department, taking account of actual, apparent or potential conflicts of interest and they come forward based on the recommendations from community leaders.”
The club sits in Mr Morrison’s electorate of Cook. He is not a member of the club and there is no suggestion there was any conflict of interest in the club applying for the grant.
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