Libs refine controversial grants scheme after being accused of setting a ‘reckless’ bar

The Liberals have previously faced criticism after previous election campaigns over perceptions of conflicts of interest and pork barrelling. The Premier responds.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Moonah. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor has lashed the Liberals accusing them of handing out “money for mates” for community organisations.

Labor Franklin MP Dean Winter said the Liberals had not learnt their lesson from previous election campaigns of perceptions of giving out “dodgy sports grants”

“They’re at it again, the Liberals are doing exactly what the Integrity Commission told them not to do in 2018 and 2021,” he said.

Labor's Rebecca White and Dean Winter.

“They are just handing out basically blank cheques, this is money for mates.”

Mr Winter said Labor had read the Integrity Commission report and established “a proper process, where every project can be assessed based on need”.

“We want to make sure that important organisations that are doing great work in our community can be assessed on the basis of need, not on the basis of who they know,” he said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Friday said there was nothing wrong with candidates soliciting election commitments from community organisations ahead of the election.

“We have a strict process in place,” Mr Rockliff said.

“It is a process that is transparent, it is a process that requires parliamentary approval in terms of the outcomes of the commitments, and I make no apologies for listening to my community, acting on their concerns and their needs.

“Many of those areas support volunteer organisations, not-for-profit organisations, and every member of parliament with their salt should be listening to their community.”

Mr Winter said he believed a form was being handed out to organisations, with candidates and MPs “telling them to fill out what they want, return it to them, and see their wishes come true”.

He said Tasmanians wanted to know they could get access to support if they had projects that met the normal requirements.

“While community commitments themselves aren’t the problem, the Liberals’ approach to them, and the way they have been using the form, is,” Mr Winter said.

“The form is clearly marked FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY, DO NOT PROVIDE THIS FORM TO ANY EXTERNAL INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION.

“We need a government that’s focused on investing in the things on the basis of need, not on the basis of who knows who in a community club.”

Mr Winter said he was worried that with a budget deficit of $600m the government was “handing out money like confetti”.

Premier responds to pork barrelling accusations

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says there’s nothing wrong with candidates soliciting election commitments from community organisations in the lead-up to the March 23 state election.

The Liberals have faced criticism after previous election campaigns over perceptions of conflicts of interest and pork barrelling.

Concerns were raised after the 2021 election about a $45,000 payment to a football club with close links to a northern MP’s family and $150,000 given to a Sandy Bay rowing club, where another MP’s daughter was a member.

A document obtained by the Mercury shows the Liberals have refined their approach this election: the 2030 Strong Plan Community Project Election Commitment Submission form allows candidates to seek funding.

“Do not provide this form to any external individual or organisation,” it notes in red type.

The form helps candidates to nominate projects for public funding but asks them to check to make sure they don’t have conflicts of interest.

Liberal Party pre-election grant form.

On Friday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said good candidates stood up for their communities.

“I mean, we’ve got candidates 35 candidates, from all walks of life, knocking on doors, engaging with their community, turning up to community events,” he said.

“We’ve got MPs that currently, it’s their job to respond to the community to respond to the needs of the community, that may well be infrastructure of the local sporting club, or whatever that may well be support for non-profit organisations, more investment into mental health and wellbeing.

“There are a huge range of issues and opportunities that will present to us but all our commitments, and I assure you, those that respond to community needs and community concerns.”

Simon Behrakis Liberal member for Clark, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Angela Hamilton owner of Raspberry Lane Boutique in Moonah. Premier Jeremy Rockliff in Moonah. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I’ve been in this job for 22 years and the first day of the next election campaign is the day after you’re elected. And every MP should be out there among the community listening, learning and responding”.

Labor’s Luke Edmunds said voters had seen it all before.

“Jeremy Rockliff has learned nothing from the same sports rorts saga his predecessors Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein went through,” he said.

“This is just another example of what the Liberals do every year. Make promises they can’t keep, not do their homework and waste taxpayers’ money during a cost of living crisis.

“Disability organisations that I work closely with have been calling for increased funding for 10 years.

“I have no doubt they will continue to be left underfunded under a Liberal government that is more interested in sports rorting than healthcare for our most vulnerable members of the community.

“Rockliff has set a recklessly low bar for how organisations get taxpayer funding. It’s time the Liberals go.”

A government spokesperson said: “All community project election commitments will be subject to parliamentary approval after the election.”