The Accountability Round Table has developed a register of notable recent rorts or alleged rorts at federal and State level. We define a rort as ‘any arrangement or practice that enables, or results in, the misuse of public resources, assets or powers for personal or partisan gain’. We consider that the proper use of public resources, assets or powers is for them to be used consistent with the public trust principle and with transparent, reviewable procedures for identified public benefits. We have not included other failures of accountability which do not centrally feature rorting, such as the Robodebt scandal.
The Register is drawn from several sources including ART members’ own knowledge, the Australian Democrats’ Rorts Watch, Elizabeth Minter’s article Gutless Wonders on John Menadue’s Pearls & Irritations blog, Michael West’s QED blog and Michael Pascoe’s report on Grants rorts in the New Daily but ART takes responsibility for the content.
ART Members and other visitors to this site are welcome to comment or suggest updates, corrections or additions using our Contact Us link.
Jurisdiction, party, date, $ms
Name
– Minister responsible
– Minister responsible
Description
Location
Investigator
Key issues
– the result
– the result
Cth, LNP, 2020-21, $1,500m
Local Roads & Community Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
support for local councils
national
new
favouring government electorates?
Cth, LNP, 2020-23, $923m/3 years
Community Development Grants
– Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
infrastructure grants for projects identified by government
national
see this link
timing of grants seems linked to electoral cycle
Cth, LNP, 2016-21 $1,004m
Building Better Regions Fund
– Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
infrastructure and community development grants
national
ANAO considering
favouring government electorates?
Cth, LNP, 2020 $102.5m
Sports Rorts Mk II
– Sport
– Sport
grants for sports clubs decided by Minister often contrary to advice
national
ANAO
favouring government electorates?
– report by PM&C found Minister failed to declare interest in one case
– report by PM&C found Minister failed to declare interest in one case
Cth, LNP, 2020 $301m
Community Drought Support Program
– Agriculture
– Agriculture
grants to councils meeting drought criteria
national
ABC
grants made to ineligble councils
Cth, LNP, 2020 $448.5m
Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund
– Agriculture
– Agriculture
application process for local communites and businesses
national
Guardian
application process may favour large companies over small communities
Cth, LNP, 2019 $150m
Female Facilities & Water Safety Stream
– Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
facilities grants allocated through election promises
national
ABC
no guidelines or application. process
Cth, LNP, 2019 $272m
Regional Growth Fund
– Infrastructure
– Infrastructure
grants to promote growth in regions
national
see this link
allocation favoured government seats 89/11%
NSW, LNP, 2019 $250m
Stronger Communities Fund
– Premier
– Premier
accusations of pork barrelling before election
NSW
NSW Parl Ctee
destruction of records of reasons for decisions?
– continuing
– continuing
Cth, LNP, 2018 $443.3m
GBR Foundation
– Environment
– Environment
establishment grant to Foundation
N Qld
ANAO
no competitive process
Cth, LNP, 2017 $30m
Foxtel
– Communications
– Communications
grant for coverage of under-represented sports
national
none
no record of advice