House debates Questions without Notice

Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program

Tuesday, 3 March 2020 House of Representatives

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

2:20 pm

My question is again to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, contrary to his repeated statements that Senator McKenzie alone determined sports rorts funding on 4 April, at 12:35 on 11 April Senator McKenzie's office sent a list of projects to the Prime Minister's office with one project removed and nine new projects added and, minutes later, at 12:43 pm Senator McKenzie's office sent the final revised list of projects to Sport Australia?

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

As I've said before, I'm not responsible for the email service in the former minister's office. I refer the member to the evidence—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Prime Minister will pause. Members will cease interjecting or they'll start—

Ms Plibersek interjecting

The member for Sydney will leave under 94(a). There's a certain irony in actually interjecting on me when I'm asking people to stop interjecting. The Prime Minister has the call.

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I refer the member to the evidence by Mr Boyd that was provided regarding the issues that were just raised. It says of the changes made later that day, the 12:43 version, that none of them were evident as being the request of the Prime Minister's office rather than the minister's office.