New evidence from the Australian National Audit Office has revealed that Minister Tudge not only knew that the Commuter Car Park Fund was entirely politicised, but he himself directed his staff to do it.
Ever since this scandal first broke, Minister Tudge and the Prime Minister have denied all knowledge of the so-called ‘Top-20 Marginals’ list used to direct funding.
But now we know that Minister Tudge himself asked his staff to start the canvassing process that led to the creation of the list.
We also know that the list was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Appearing before Senate Estimates late last night, the ANAO gave evidence that the Top 20 Marginals list began with Minister Tudge telling his staff which marginal seat holders he wanted ‘to speak to about what are their infrastructure priorities’.
After this instruction, the Minister’s staff ‘then developed what was essentially a key tasks lists, of things that are going to do’.
This became the notorious list of Top-20 Marginals that was shared with the Prime Minister’s Office.
Despite having asked his staff to create them, Minister Tudge continues to claim he has no knowledge about this document.
And despite clear evidence of their existence, the Morrison-Joyce Government refused a Senate Order to reveal them on the grounds they could not be found.
The Morrison-Joyce Government’s lies and obfuscation cannot go on.
It’s time to come clean about who knew what and the role the Prime Minister played in this scandal.
TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2021
CATHERINE KING & ANDREW GILES – MEDIA RELEASE – TIME FOR TUDGE TO TELL THE TRUTH – TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2021
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