No rush to act on sporting scandal

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to take whatever action is necessary after an investigation into Cabinet minister Bridget Mckenzie’s grants scandal is complete.

The former sport minister is resisting pressure to quit over a $100 million scheme to help sports clubs upgrade facilities.

A damning auditor-general’s report found the scheme favoured marginal and targeted seats.

Mr Morrison has referred the issue to Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens to see if ministerial standards were breached. The Prime Minister said there was no deadline for the report.

“I’m not going to prejudice the outcome of that report; I think that would be unfair to that process and to the secretary,” he said yesterday.

“I’ll let him do his job … look at that advice and take whatever action is necessary.”

The auditor-general found Senator Mckenzie ignored Sport Australia’s advice on which organisations should get grants, with 73 per cent of the projects not recommended by the agency.

Despite immense pressure to quit her cabinet role, Senator Mckenzie is digging in.

“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 spokeswoman for the deputy Nationals leader said.

Mr Gaetjens’ investigation will include looking into a $36,000 grant given to a shooting club where Senator McKenzie is a member.

The minister did not disclose her membership on her register of interests, with her office arguing that was unnecessary because it was a gift worth less than $300.

Mr Morrison said the shooting club issue was “very, very different” to the broader

THIS ABUSE IS RANK. IT STINKS MORE THAN A BUCKET OF PRAWN HEADS THAT YOU LEFT OUT ON A HOT DAY LIKE TODAY

ANTHONY ALBANESE

controversy surrounding grants scheme.

The Prime Minister dined with Nationals leader Michael Mccormack – who decides the make-up of the junior coalition partner’s frontbench – and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at The Lodge on Wednesday night.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is trying to tighten the screws on Senator Mckenzie and link the scandal to Mr Morrison’s office.

“This abuse is rank. It stinks more than a bucket of prawn heads that you left out on a hot day like today. The stench goes all the way up to the government,” he said. the