(That grant is looking a little less solid)
Former prime minister Scott Morrison had final say over $828 million in grants in the industry portfolio in the year before the federal election at the same time he held secret authority over five ministries.
The spending rules for the Modern Manufacturing Initiative scheme gave Morrison the ultimate
power over every grant so he could assert his authority over then-industry minister Christian Porter and his successor Angus Taylor, according to afederal review launched in Juneto check hundreds of funding decisions.
Scott Morrison announced 12 grants with his colleagues between March 1 and April 4, before the election was called, followed by another five during the campaign.CREDIT:DOMINIC LORRIMER
The new findings reveal the full scale of the former prime minister’s power over the spending program while companies were left waiting for mont up hs to discover if they would receive any grants, fuelling suspicions among applicants that approvals were timed for political gain during the election campaign.
Manufacturing companies have toldThe AgeandThe Sydney Morning Heraldthey were turned away by the previous government or forced to wait because decisions were delayed ahead of the federal election.
The review by officials in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources concluded that the 17 grants were worth $828 million across sectors ranging from food to medicine and defence manufacturing.
It also found the former prime minister announced the grants with his colleagues in a spate of 12 decisions that began on March 1 and concluded on April 4 before the election was called, followed by another five spending announcements during the campaign to decide the election on May 21.
Industry Minister Ed Husic, who is considering the new report from his department, questioned why the announcements were made so close to election day and why the prime minister would control the grants.
“It is astonishing the former prime minister took on a role normally reserved for the responsible minister,” he said.
