Green group under fire

Rainforest Trust Australia facing ‘fraud’ investigation

A CONSERVATION group that spent millions on buying blocks of rainforest across the Wet Tropics has been investigated for allegedly misappropriating grant money.

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has confirmed that an investigation into the awarding of a government grant to the Australian Rainforest Foundation, now known as Rainforest Trust Australia, has been referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

It is understood the inquiry relates to the awarding of a $775,500 Commonwealth grant for weed control on a property near El Arish. It has been alleged that the weed control had not been carried out, as per grant guidelines.

The organisation, which this year consolidated with the US-based Rainforest Trust, was awarded the grant in 2014 to clean up the property, within the Mission Beach cassowary corridor, over three years.

However locals have complained that the property has deteriorated since the project started, claiming there has been minimal weed clearing and revegetation work.

In a letter obtained by the Cairns Post, Mr Frydenberg wrote last month that fraud against the Australian Government was a serious offence, while thanking a local for raising the matter with his department.

“The Government is committed to addressing fraud and has the appropriate mechanisms in place to prevent, detect and respond to fraud and corruption activity,” he said.

“Information from the public is an important part of the approach.”

Rainforest Trust Australia chairman David Butler claimed his organisation did not have a case to answer, as an ex-employee had already been charged by the Department of Public Prosecutions.

He confirmed the employee had been working for the foundation at the time of the alleged offence.

“As this matter is still before the court … this organisation cannot comment further,” he said. “Currently though, the Australian Rainforest Foundation does not have government grants for any of the projects that it is working on.”

He said since the Department of Environment commenced its inquiry, it had put in place proper and more rigorous processes and procedures to improve its governance and financial management.

Rainforest Trust Australia has purchased more than 1.2 million hectares of rainforest across the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, including in the Daintree, the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast.