The Australian National Audit Office has found $100 million spent by the Morrison government shortly before the federal election was suspiciously directed at seats the Coalition was keen to win. In a report released yesterday, the office found then-sports minister Bridget McKenzie disregarded the recommended recipients of Sport Australia’s Community Sports Infrastructure Grant program in favour of sporting organisations located within marginal and target seats. As the ABC reports, 73% of projects given funding in the third round were not recommended by Sport Australia. McKenzie’s office was quick to respond, saying “the ANAO report is clear that no rules were brokenâ€. However, the ANAO is also questioning the legal authority the minister had to hand-pick grant recipients.
