Thread by @SenKimCarr

Australia has established organisations allocating money for science and research for a reason. @arc_gov_au , @CSIROnews, @ANSTO and @aims_gov_au all have long established, rigorous, contestable, accountable peer review mechanisms. #auspol #reefgate

These mechanisms provide public accountability and confidence that significant amounts of public monies are being spent properly.

#auspol #reefgate

Shovelling half a billion dollars to a small organisation with no track record of managing a grant of this size, or track record in rigorous science allocation is reckless.

It’s bad for accountability, it’s bad for science, and it damages public confidence #auspol #reefgate

What’s worse - it’s the privatisation of public science.

Public science has been under constant attack by this government.

@aims_gov_au and @CSIROnews could have done this job, but now they must get out a begging bowl just to get the $ to do their job #auspol #reefgate

The idea that any PM, let alone @TurnbullMalcolm made this grant at a meeting with no officials is staggering.

It’s scandalous behaviour.

This perversion of science process, of public finance, must stop.

#auspol #reefgate

The question must be asked - would the grant of this size to the @GBRFoundation have happened if there was a Federal Integrity Commission, like Labor has proposed?

#auspol #reefgate