SPORTS RORTS NOT THE ONLY DODGY MCKENZIE FUNDING DECISIONS

New revelations reported today show Bridget McKenzie‘s dodgy funding decisions go beyond Sports Rorts and include using money earmarked for drought-affected communities to prop up Coalition seats. 
 
In the lead up to the 2019 election, then Regional Services Minister Bridget McKenzie awarded funding of $1 million each to councils that did not meet the Government’s own eligibility criteria.
 
In a response to a Labor Question on Notice, the Federal Government confirmed that of the 14 councils awarded funds under the Drought Communities Program, six did not meet the agricultural employment threshold.
 
The response also reveals a further seven councils likely did not meet the rainfall deficiency threshold but were still awarded $1 million each.
 
13 of the councils were in Coalition seats, including a number that were under siege from rural Independents.
 
The fourteenth council was in the seat of Mayo, infamously targeted in the election by the Coalition.
 
The Department of Infrastructure told the October 2019 Senate Estimates hearing that it provided data to the Minister’s office on Drought Communities Program eligibility before the Government went in to caretaker.
 
The decisions to announce funding for the 14 councils during the election campaign were then taken by the Minister.
 
Scott Morrison must come clean on why Bridget McKenzie awarded funding to councils that did not meet the Government’s own eligibility criteria for the Drought Communities Program in the lead up to the election.
 
Australians are fed up with the secrecy and political games from the Morrison Government on the drought.
 
The revelation follows the Government’s announcement this week of additional Drought Communities Program funding to 52 councils with no transparency, leaving many drought-affected councils clueless as to why they continue to miss out on Federal Government support.