Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

This grant was ultimately approved without a financial viability assessment, audited financial statements or even legal authority in place to make the grant in the first place. That wasn't the only grant that this foundation received in the lead up to the 2019 election, of course. They also received $630,000 for security, signed off under the now Leader of the Opposition's Safer Communities Fund, which, of course, was the subject of a separate but equally scathing Audit Office report.

We know on this side, now more than ever, every single dollar spent in health is precious. I'm glad that my department has accepted each and every one of the Audit Office recommendations. I've directed them to examine, line by line, each of the remaining projects under this program which have not yet been fully acquitted, but the stain from this long line of funding scandals—this, car park rorts, sport rorts and so many others—won't be washed so easily from the Liberal and National parties.

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