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New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian intervened in the assessment of a $5.5 million grant to a shooting association in Daryl Maguire's electorate, months after he had written to her asking for assistance to fund the project."
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But 7.30 can reveal that reassessment appears to have been undertaken following a direct intervention from Ms Berejiklian, according to the new documents.The executive director of Regional NSW, Chris Hanger, wrote to Infrastructure NSW CEO Jim Betts on June 1, 2017, requesting the clay target grant and three other unrelated grants be considered for approval.
In that letter, Mr Hanger wrote:
"The Department's Investment Appraisal Unit has assessed the updated business case provided by ACTA for the development of a large clubhouse/conference facility and associated infrastructure at their existing site in Wagga Wagga following a request by the Premier."
Weeks later, Ms Berejiklian's interest in the approval of the grant was once again raised by other senior NSW officials.
In afurther email from deputy secretary of Regional NSW, Gary Barnes on June 20, 2017, Mr Barnes provided an update on the approval of the clay target funding to a senior staffer in the Premier's office.
Mr Barnes indicated the funding would soon be approved, and then wrote in the email: "Just wanted you in the loop given Premier's interest."
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The grant ultimately provided to the Clay Target Association was bigger than it had initially sought, and for a larger convention space, after its then-CEO Tony Turner received a phone call from a government official saying an unidentified government minister "wants it bigger"."
Gladys Berejiklian intervened in $5.5m grant pursued by Daryl Maguire (msn.com)
More of the same from the Liberals. Taxpayers taken for a ride again.
