Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 7:33:01 to 7:36:05
Discussion regarding representations for project funding in the electorate of Indi and inquiries into advice provided concerning advocacy by local members.
Topics: Grants administration, Integrity
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Lisa Rauter, Hon Anthony Chisholm, Unknown Speaker
provide advice um to either the department of PMNC on representations from members of parliament advocating for funding for projects in their electorate, members of parliament who aren't in the government, first assistant secretary, regional development, Northern Australia and local government. No. Um, has the department been requested to provide advice to the minister's office on representations specific members of parliament advocating for funding for projects in their electorates? Not through PMNC, but >> has any such information been provided specifically in relation to uh, MP's advocacy in the electorate of Indai? No,
Senator. All we see is the final list of those uh invited or those announced applicants during the electoral period.
So the minister or ministerial staff or prime ministerial staff didn't ask for any information about uh an $8 million request for the Banella Art Gallery redevelopment. Not that I'm aware of. No. uh $10 million request for Banella indoor recreation. Was there any assessment done by the department on that project?
>> We'll just check for you.
>> Yeah, thank you. And not and outside of this grant program like I'm assuming it would be in the regional development space, but Miss Hall if it's not that I'm aware of. No. all blacks football netball club
not unless it was part of those election
commitments. No, this is just any request from the minister's office from the minister from across government about those projects receiving funding whether through this program or another. So the department did not provide any advice to PMNC on the dirt file um against Helen Haines in respect to her raising concerns about the Marriageful Golf Club grant. >> No. >> Minister, do you know who shopped around the dirt file where they got the information of the projects?
>> Uh no. I I wouldn't characterize it that way, uh, Senator McKenzie, but I was aware of some media reporting on this issue uh, last week.
>> Well, the Daily Mail's been quite hot on the trot
>> level, the extent of my knowledge in
Has Minister King's office ever