Senate debates Questions without Notice
Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
2:51 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister's earlier answers. Given that former Minister McKenzie consulted the Prime Minister and his office on the final round of grants under the Community Sports Infrastructure program on 10 April, how could former Minister McKenzie possibly have made the decision on 4 April?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I don't accept the characterisation of Senator McKenzie's interaction with the Prime Minister's office on 10 April. As I've indicated, after the decisions were made in relation to those projects, of course there was interaction as appropriate to make arrangements in relation to announcements of decisions that had already been made.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
What steps has the Prime Minister taken to satisfy himself that the document signed by Minister McKenzie was not backdated?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
2:52 pm
What I would just say again is that Sports Australia gave very, very clear, explicit and unequivocal evidence: this brief was dated 4 April.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Will the minister guarantee to the Senate that the document signed by Minister McKenzie was not backdated?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
All I can do is, again, to point you to the evidence of Sports Australia, which was clear and unequivocal: the brief was dated 4 April.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
The point of order is on direct relevance—
Scott Ryan President
Senator Cormann has concluded his answer, Senator Wong. I'm afraid it's not appropriate for a point of order.