Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 7:41:24 to 7:43:36
Officials explain the process for managing conflicts of interest and identify the specific ministers responsible for approving various grant projects.
Topics: Grants administration, Integrity
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Lisa Rauter, Jacinta McDonald, Senator Glenn Sterle, Unknown Speaker
>> So, Minister Katherine King was the main decision maker for the program.
>> Yep.
>> She delegated authority to Minister Tony Burke for projects that were in her electorate. >> Um and uh Minister McBain approved projects when she was acting minister for infrastructure while Minister King was on leave.
>> And so what period was that for? That
was in July. >> Yeah,
>> July. Okay. And just on notice the exact dates there. So, and and Minister King So, Minister McBain's um grants for her electorate were decided by Minister King.
>> That's correct.
>> Yeah. Okay. And how were conflicts of interest uh managed in terms of um projects coming forward when it came to memberships and
so projects we only see those projects post the decision or or the the project already being announced. Um so we put up in our brief to Minister King a request for conflict of interest declaration and then hence um why the projects in her electorate were then given to Minister
>> Okay. And so um given this program would have gone through ERC and people on ERC minister I think Butler uh the prime minister and others were receiving significant grants in their electorates. what process uh as the program went through ERC was um undertaken to ensure conflicts were dealt with appropriately
there. Um the ERC conflicts of interest process is managed by prime minister and cabinet. Um so that would be a question for that department.
>> Okay. We'll chase them for that.
>> Okay. Sorry. So are you still on the same topic?
>> Yeah. Yeah,
>> I know. I thought you'd pack up to move on to the next one because I just wanted to clarify something. We'll let you go.