Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Sport, Senator Colbeck. In a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Sports Grants, dated 14 February 2020, the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Gaetjens, stated that Senator McKenzie was the final approver of funding decisions. Mr Gaetjens reaffirmed this evidence before the committee on 22 July 2020. Is Mr Gaetjens correct that Senator McKenzie was the final approver of funding decisions?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The guidelines for the community sports infrastructure grants were very, very clear. The minister was the decision-maker with respect to the allocation of the grants.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a supplementary question?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In reference to a current Federal Court proceeding, it was reported on 2 June 2021, by the Guardian:

Sport Australia insists it retained the final say on which applications would be approved for funding despite a flurry of late changes to grant recipients requested by the former federal sport minister …

Why is the Commonwealth asserting one thing before the Federal Court and another thing before the parliament?

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure some of you should make that sort of comment. This is a serious reflection on a—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I didn't hear. If someone wishes to raise something, they can.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sport Australia has put forward a defence for the case that's been taken against it into the court. Senator Farrell did ask some questions of Sport Australia at estimates, as a part of the estimates process. At that point in time, the CEO of Sport Australia indicated that, under legal advice, he was not prepared to answer questions with respect to the defence while the court case was ongoing. I don't intend to either.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a final supplementary question?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the minister now tell us who was the final decision-maker.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I've indicated, the guidelines for the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program were very, very clear: the minister was the decision-maker with respect to the grants. They were very, very clear. The guidelines for the community sport infrastructure program stated that the minister was the decision-maker with respect to the allocation of the grants.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on notice.