Slater and Gordon is investigating the possibility of a class action and Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer, Josh Bornstein, has offered to work pro bono for clubs which were denied funding under a program the audit office found was targeted at marginal seats. Both cite the fact the Australian National Audit Office report said it is “not evident to the ANAO what the legal authority was” for McKenzie to approve grants. McKenzie has defended her handling of the program, insisting that all projects granted funding were eligible and “no rules were broken”. Baker said the audit office report “raises serious questions about the lawfulness of the conduct involved”. It noted that although the sports minister has a power to direct Sports Australia “it was not used”.

Source: The Guardian January 19, 2020 03:11 UTC