Exclusive : Sport Australia also found eight of nine did not meet ‘high merit’ criteria in some categoriesBridget McKenzie’s office approved nine sport grants in key seats that it asked Sport Australia to assess after applications closed, despite a warning from the agency that it was “not appropriate” to accept or fund the projects. The direct request from McKenzie’s office to Sport Australia under the controversial sport rorts affair asked it to consider nine new applications that had either been substantially amended or were new on March 20 – less than two months before the May election. Four of the applications that came directly from the minister’s office came from proponents who had not submitted an application when the grants were open publicly in August and September 2018. Sports grants: Michael McCormack stands by Bridget McKenzie, saying she has done ‘outstanding job’ Read moreIn response to the request from McKenzie’s office, Sport Australia warned that it was unfair for the applications to be considered, given it had refused similar requests from other MPs and sporting clubs after applications closed on 14 September 2018. It also criticised the opportunity extended to McKenzie’s office to amend existing applications or submit new applications, given it “was not advertised or otherwise made available more broadly”.

Source: The Guardian January 24, 2020 18:56 UTC