Senate debates Questions without Notice
Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
2:55 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. At the National Press Club on 29 January, the Prime Minister said about the Community Sport Infrastructure Program:
… it's important to note that the Auditor-General did not find there were any ineligible projects that were funded under this scheme—
The Auditor-General contradicted the Prime Minister in evidence to the Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants saying, 'No, that's not what we found.'
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Good on you, Eric!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
Good on you, Eric!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
Why is Prime Minister Morrison misrepresenting the Audit Office and misleading Australians?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
2:56 pm
The Prime Minister was doing nothing of the sort. The Prime Minister was quoting the ANAO's own report, which highlights at page 9 that no applications assessed as ineligible were awarded grant funding. That point was reiterated by the ANAO during the committee hearing. I'm referring you directly to a question asked by Senator Canavan, answered by Mr Brian Boyd. Senator Canavan asked:
Was there a project that received funding that was assessed as ineligible by Sport Australia?
The ANAO—Brian Boyd—answered:
No …
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
2:57 pm
The ANAO revealed in evidence to the select committee that 43 per cent of the projects, 290 in total, were in fact considered ineligible when the agreements were signed. How then can the Prime Minister claim, as he did on the Sunrise program in January, that 'every single one of the projects that was approved was eligible; every single rule was followed'?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I refer the senator to my previous answer.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
2:58 pm
Why is Prime Minister Morrison being loose with the truth? When will he correct the record and start being honest with Australians about his actions and those of his ministers?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I completely reject the premise of the question. As I have already indicated in response to the first question, all the Prime Minister did was quote and reference the ANAO's own report, and I refer the honourable senator to my first answer.