Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 9:12:16 to 9:18:16
The Minister defends the integrity of grant programs, highlighting the use of independent expert panels to ensure merit-based funding decisions and transparency.
Topics: Integrity, Grants administration
Speakers: Hon James McGrath, Lisa Rauter, Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Mr. Jim Betts, Senator Glenn Sterle
>> What I will say is that we have returned transparency and integrity to our grants programs. Uh Senator McGrath, >> and we have cleaned up the rots and the color-coded spreadsheets that guided decision making under your government and that we are committed to funding community infrastructure in a way that is open and merit-based. And there's an
interesting AAO report too that supports that.
>> So sadly the evidence doesn't back that up. when 23 of the 25 projects are in labour held electorates and none are in coalition held electorates. It would indicate regardless of the color of of the spreadsheet or regardless of whatever spin that may be put on it that the urban precincts and partnership program is being used to gerrymander projects in labor held electorates rather than being fairly distributed across uh urban areas. um regardless of the political colors of the incumbent MP um to the department. Can you confirm if any applications were received from projects located in coalition held electorates?
>> I don't carry information by electorate.
>> were any applications relating to projects in coalition held seats recommended to the minister for funding?
>> Same answer.
Have you previously been aware that no announced urban precincts and partnership program project is located in a coalition held federal electorate
>> don't track electorate
>> we apply the guidelines approved by cabinet
>> so Tasmania has four if I'm correct with um how we've
>> yes Tasmania has four
>> Tasmania has four Queensland has just two,
>> correct?
>> That doesn't seem like a proportionate allocation.
>> it's done based on merit, not based on getting even geographical spread.
>> So, New South Wales, South Australia, and W have three each. Uh but our good friends in Victoria have eight. Do you consider whether the funded projects provided an appropriate geographic spread across eligible um in terms of eligible areas within the greater capital city statistical areas
>> even geographic spread is not a criteria. It's merit based based on
publish criteria. So, it's just a a mere coincidence that 23 of the 25 projects are in Labour held electorates and uh Queensland, which uh has a majority of of Conservative members of parliament, has two, but Victoria uh has eight. Um
>> um Senator, for this program, we did have an independent um assessment panel that was created by urban experts that we drew from um the urban forum that was established at the time. And so we did utilize their expertise in coming up with those programs that were most meritorious.
>> Um who who was on who was on that panel?
>> I don't believe I have that with me, but we could take that on notice. Um, >> we'll take that on notice, Senator. We'll come back to you during this hearing.
>> Um,
>> did the minister's office seek additional information about any projects that were submitted to the minister's
office? No, we provide the um minister with a an outline of the assessment of the project um how it achieved value for money um a description of that project and what it will achieve um and which projects are meritorious.
>> Did the minister or or the minister's office request that any applications this is just to be certain by the way that any applications be reconsidered, reassessed or further developed? did the minister or the minister's office receive representations from members of parliament or candidates regarding the urban precincts and partnership program?
>> Not that I'm aware of if that happened between those people in the minister's office.
>> Uh, minister, can you answer?
>> Could you repeat the question, please,
Senator? uh did the minister or the minister's office uh receive representations from members of parliament or candidates regarding the urban precincts and partnership program.
>> I'll have to take that question on
>> so um uh Minister, your government has run into a few troubles with grant programs. Do you think it's a good look that a $150 million grant program only funded projects in seats held by the Labor Party or independents and that did not fund any projects in electorates held by coalition MPs?
>> Senator, I will say this that our government has worked hard to restore integrity back into the system and transparency, you know, in federal funding programs. The fact that uh many of these seats were not won by the coalition uh is up to you in terms of the city seats that you're referring to. Uh but we have uh and you've heard the officials at the table say talk about the independent expert panel. Well, we've certainly put that in place to assist in terms of those uh the independent responses to this.
>> Excellent. U now can I move on to the thriving suburbs program please? Sure.