Thread by @BelindaJones68

Hey @senbmckenzie

I've been having a little squizz at your written submission to the Senate Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants

Mind if I ask you a few questions?
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#auspol #sportsrorts #insiders

Ping - Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants
@AnthonyChisholm @janet_rice @SenatorAbetz @mattjcan @nitagreenqld

@AlboMP @RichardMarlesMP @SenatorWong

Sen McKenzie's Submission source: aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_…
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Firstly, why did you use a green texta to sign the cover letter of your submission to the Committee?

It may seem slightly trivial but it's a highly unusual thing to do when signing a legal document. Official docs are to be signed in blue or black ink
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#auspol #sportsrorts

I note that your submission contains a great deal of information, some of it inconsequential to this inquiry (e.g. the commentary of others, media commentary & reference to other programs for which you were not responsible & not subject to this Inquiry)
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#auspol #sportsrorts

At 13.

You state in your submission govt Expenditure Review Committee approved funding for Community Sport Infrastructure Grants of $29.7 million

$29.3 million was allocated to Round 1 of CSIG

What happened to the remaining $400K?
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#auspol #sportsrorts

At 19.

You state in your submission that "Accordingly, I wrote to the Prime Minister seeking additional funding rounds...."

Why did you write to the Prime Minister when the Expenditure Review Committee was responsible for any additional funding?
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#auspol #sportsrorts

At 20.

You state in your submission "I wanted the spread of grants to be geographically broad"

&

At 21.
"I requested a report detailing proportional data on the number of projects and funding amount by state and electorate"
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Did that report - re: funding amounts identify a distinct & disproportional financial bias towards rural & regional seats?

For example: If you compare QLD rural seats to urban seats(pics)

Rural seats average $1,085,718
Urban seats av. $624,555
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Or, another example: If you compare VIC rural seats to urban seats (from the pics below)

Rural seats average $1,127,637
Urban seats average $684,078

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#auspol #sportsrorts

The most glaring comparison: the seats of Dawson & Rankin

Most seats in Australia have roughly the same population & elected voters (usually around 100K)

Rural seat of Dawson got $2,004,632
Urban seat of Rankin got $16,400

Do you that's fair & unbiased?
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Ministerial responsibilities require Ministers to be unbiased and fair

You, on many occasions have articulated your pride in the fact you used your Ministerial discretion to ensure a geographical spread, which is fine.

Favouring rural areas is not.
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#auspol #sportsrorts

What Ministerial guidelines gave you the authority to disproportionately favour rural & regional seats in monetary terms?

The reasons for this would be
a) you have an affection for rural areas bcuz you grew up there

b) Re-election chances as a National
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#auspol #sportsrorts

You quoted Justice Michael Kirby in your submission (Griffiths v Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (2008) HCA 20 per Kirby, J. at (144).)

You forgot to add the bits in 144 about corruption & personal or idiosyncratic purposes, so here they are
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#auspol #sportsrorts

As a Minister it is incumbent upon you to act fairly & in an unbiased way in the interests of ALL Australians, not just rural & regional Australia bcuz you're a National & you have an affinity with the bush.

This was more the rule than the exception
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#auspol #sportsrorts

You state in your submission that you visited the Wangaratta Clay Target Club (WCTC) on 25 Jan 2019 & subsequently became an 'honorary' member of that club & it's affiliate the Australian Clay Target Assoc on 29 Jan 2019

5 days later you approved Round 2
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Yet the WCTC contradicts your version of events

They say you signed up as a 'full fee paying member' and that it was your SECOND recent visit. No mention of an 'honorary' membership was made by WCTC

Did you visit WCTC twice prior to approving Round 2?
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#auspol #sportsrorts

It seems odd that you can recall reams of information, facts, figures, details despite not having access to Ministerial records after you left your former position of Sports Minister but you can forget a visit to the WCTC

Why is that?
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#auspol #sportsrorts

Well, thanks for your time @senbmckenzie

Get back to me at anytime with your answers.

I'll wait.

If I've got anymore questions, I'll let you know.
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#auspol #sportsrorts #insiders

Oops

Do you *think that's fair & unbiased?

@threadreaderapp 'unroll please'
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Oops *its