Fund minister digs in heels

EMBATTLED Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie has refused to resign while her conduct as minister handling a $100 million sport grant program is investigated.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not prejudge the findings of the review into Senator McKenzie’s administration of the program, after a damning report found she repeatedly directed funds to sporting clubs in marginal seats against official advice.

“I’m not going to prejudice the outcome the report, I think that would be unfair to that process and to the secretary [investigating],” he said. “I’ll let him do his job and then I will look at that advice and take whatever action is necessary.”

Senator McKenzie’s decision to hand a $35,980 grant to Wangaratta Clay Target Club, while she was a member, is also being scrutinised.

Mr Morrison has referred both matters to Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens, who will investigate if she breached ministerial standards.

Senator McKenzie’s office yesterday remained defiant about the future of her position as Agriculture Minister, despite increasing pressure from the Opposition and within Coalition ranks that she step down.

“The minister is not resigning. She is actively engaging in the process and is confident there has not been a breach in ministerial standards,” a spokesman for Senator McKenzie said.

A report from the AuditorGeneral found Senator McKenzie ignored Sport

Australia advice on which clubs deserved grants up to $500,000, with 73 per cent not recommended by the agency.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said there was no option but for Senator McKenzie to resign.

“Bridget McKenzie needs to resign and there needs to be full transparency about which applications were successful, which applications weren’t, where they ranked, what the process was behind this scandal,” he said.

Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is looking at legal questions raised by the auditor-general, has defended giving minister oversight of grant programs.

“What I fundamentally don’t accept is that ministers should not be involved in final approval for projects. That’s their job,” he said.