Agree that $6.9m sounds like a waste of money and could...

Agree that $6.9m sounds like a waste of money and could definitely go to better uses, however, the same can be said for millions of other types of wasted spend around the world - at least many people/children enjoyed themselves on a free night out.

Look at some of the FAHCSIA that get doled out year by year.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/grants-blighted-by-waste-lack-of-checks/story-fn59niix-1226367477596

...and here is a spreadsheet indicating individual grants totaling > $7bn over the last 2 years.

http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2012/grants_2.xls

Obviously some very worthwhile recipients, but sort the sheet by Program Component or Purpose and look at some of the spend groups e.g. Animal Mgt in Indigenous Communities - Coconut Grove gets a good look in...

e.g.

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated Remote Indigenous Communities Animal Management Worker Program NT 18/07/11 74363 35 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $3,299,325

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated Dog Health Programs in Remote Communities Best Practice Manual and Training. 21/12/09 66896 35 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $84,329

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated Visit the communities of Doomadgee and Mornington Island to train local educators and produce local talking books or other materials on Animal Management.. 22/06/11 73002 20 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $54,450

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated Develop a sustainable workable model of strategies, for the control and management of dogs in Mutitjulu community 07/04/11 72427 4 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $4,950

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated "IRSD Special Account funding will provide support to the $2.89
million Aboriginal Benefits Account (ABA) Animal
Management Workers (AMW) project (July 2011 to June
2014). The community enhancement grant from the ABA
goes towards implementing a sus" 24/07/12 77260 12 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $220,000

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated "AMRRIC will be assisting with the implementation of dog
management programs in selected RSD communities to
achieve tangible results and improve dog and community
health." 18/08/11 74427 10 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $206,800

Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities Incorporated AMRRIC will be assisting with the implementation of dog management programs in selected RSD communities to achieve tangible results and improve dog and community health. 28/09/10 71066 12 Coconut Grove, NT 0810 $206,800

...