Thread by @kathyrichardson

Since coming to office the Morrison Government has spent $55b+ on grants programs, the Centre for Public Integrity says. During that time, 100% of Audit Office investigations that looked into grant administration found flaws. Seal the Barrel is a new report from @cpi_aus.
1/10

Greatest hits, as documented by CPI, include:
* Safer Communities Fund - “Funding decisions were not appropriately informed by departmental briefings and, for the majority of decisions, the basis for the decisions was not clearly recorded”
2/10

* Regional Jobs and Investments Packages - "Applications were not soundly assessed in accordance with the program guidelines"
3/10

* Great Barrier Reef Foundation - "Insufficient scrutiny of the foundation’s proposal in three key areas examined"
4/10

* Supporting Reliable Energy Infrastructure Program - "... was not fully informed by an appropriate assessment process and sound advice on the award of grant funding. Aspects of the approach did not comply with the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines”
5/10

* Commuter Car Parks Program under the Urban Congestion Fund - The Audit Office remarked on the complete absence of “published guidelines, eligibility criteria or merit criteria”
6/10

* Community Sport Infrastructure Program - “...the award of grant funding was not informed by an appropriate assessment process and sound advice”
7/10

So how do we #sealthebarrel? The Centre for Public Integrity recommends:
* Clear criteria: merit-based criteria & program guidelines, published & tabled for programs worth than $100m; Parliament to set criteria & guidelines in primary legislation for programs worth $100m+
8/10

* Robust reporting: Ministers to report to Parliament quarterly on any expenditure decisions that deviate from departmental advice; departments to periodically table documentation pertaining to the administration of programs worth $100m+
9/10

* Augmented accountability: dedicated parliamentary cttee to oversee applicability & enforceability of the legislative framework; reassertion of a frank & fearless public service; National Integrity Commission. 10/10
#auspol #grants #sealthebarrel

Report: publicintegrity.org.au/wp-content/upl…