View from The Hill: When what’s good for the goose is not okay for the gander
Labor once relentlessly pursued former minister Bridget McKenzie over so-called “sports rorts”. Now the tables have been turned.
The political argument of "what's good for the goose is not okay for the gander" persists in Australian government funding practices. During the Morrison era, Labor targeted then sports minister Bridget McKenzie for grants that appeared politically biased. McKenzie resigned amid scrutiny over undeclared membership of gun organizations.
Now, a report by the independent Centre for Public Integrity (CPI) reveals a similar favoritism in the government's $560 million Local and Major Community Infrastructure Program. The program, which has faced criticism, has been found to predominantly benefit the government's own electorates and areas deemed marginal or held by Labor.
In the ABC's coverage, it emerged that Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister, received an honorary golf club membership in his electorate, which he had not declared. Albanese's sensitivity to the matter may be linked to his past controversy over the "Bush Deep" podcast. The opposition has pushed for more transparency in the grants system, calling for mandatory, enforceable standards, greater transparency, and a non-government chaired parliamentary committee to oversee grant administration.
The crossbenchers see this as a potential turning point, but history suggests entrenched practices could persist regardless of who is in power.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
