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Date
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Event
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Reference
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8 May 2018
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Round 1 funding announced.
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Commonwealth of Australia, Budget Measures: Budget Paper No. 2 2018–19, p. 124.
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11 May 2018
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Department of Health provides template guidelines to Sport Australia to assist with drafting CSIG program guidelines.
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Mr Brian Boyd, Executive Director Performance Audit Services Group, Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 18; Sport Australia, answer to written question on notice, 11 September 2020 (received 5 February 2021).
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Sport Australia reports that program guidelines produced in May 2018 did not have the minister as the delegate.
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Sport Australia, answers to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 11.
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4 June 2018
|
Minister’s authority to decide grants valued at up to $500,000 discussed within Sport Australia.
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Sport Australia, answers to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 7.
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|
6 June 2018
|
Department of Health reaffirms advice provided during the 2018–19 budget process that the minister requested she be the decision maker in the CSIG program guidelines.
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Department of Health, answers to questions on notice, 11 September 2020 (received 28 September 2020), p. 1.
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7 June 2018
|
Department of Health reminds Sport Australia that the minister would like to approve CSIG program grants.
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Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 4.
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19 June 2018
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Minister announces ‘[d]etails of the $29.7 million community infrastructure grants program will be available shortly’.
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Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, ‘Focus on regions at local government assembly’, Media Release, 19 June 2019.
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28 June 2018
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Department of Health internal email discusses legal considerations if the minister approves expenditure under the CSIG program.
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Department of Health, answers to questions on notice, 27 August 2020 (received 16 September 2020), p. 3. See also Ms Edwards, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 27 August 2020
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31 July 2018
|
The last of six drafts of the CSIG program guidelines submitted to the minister’s office.
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ANAO, answers to written questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 2.
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Minister approves CSIG program guidelines.
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ANAO, answers to written questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 3.
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1 August 2018
|
Sport 2030 (the National Sports Plan) launched, CSIG program announced.
|
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, ‘Sport plan for a healthy, active and successful Australia’, Media Release, 1 August 2018. Details of the program at Sport Australia, Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program: Overview, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180813043600/https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/community_sport_infrastructure_grant_program (accessed 10 December 2020).
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Round 1
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2 August 2018
|
Round 1 commences.
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Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, ‘Investment in sport infrastructure to build stronger communities’, Media Release, 2 August 2018.
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|
CSIG guidelines published.
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Sport Australia, answers to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 3.
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|
Three hours before publication, CSIG guidelines sent to Tennis Australia.
|
Sport Australia, answers to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 3.
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14 September 2018
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Deadline for applications.
|
Sport Australia, Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program: Overview, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20180813043600/https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/community_sport_infrastructure_grant_program (accessed 10 December 2020).
|
|
Sport Australia advises the minister’s office that 2046 individual applications have been received totalling in excess of $393 million ($365 million more than the program budget).
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), pp. 36–37.
|
|
Sport Australia also advises the Prime Minister’s office of the number and value of applications.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, Letter to the President of the Senate responding to Order for the Production of Document No 378, received 13 February 2020, [p. 2].
|
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19 September 2018
|
Minister’s office requests list of applications in a format to include electorate information.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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|
26 September 2018
|
Sport Australia provides the minister’s office with the list of applications (does not include assessment scores or electorate data).
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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2 October 2018
|
Minister’s office requests the list of applications updated with electorate data.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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Sport Australia provides a spreadsheet colour-coded to identify electorates by party.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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3 October 2018
|
Minister’s office asks Sport Australia to update spreadsheet with missing information on electorates before a meeting planned for the next day (4 October 2018).
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ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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4 October 2018
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Meeting held between the minister’s Chief of Staff, Adviser and Sport Australia’s Executive Director of Sports Partnerships.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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15 October 2018
|
Internal email within minister’s office with CSIG documents including the colour-coded spreadsheet titled ‘Electoral Division of Applications.xlsx’ and a document titled ‘Pendulum with electorates.pdf’. Handwritten on the pdf were the total number of projects against each ‘marginal’ and ‘fairly safe’ Coalition electorate; safe Nationals electorates; marginal Labor electorates and the electorate of Indi.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4.
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17 October 2018
|
Minister’s office writes to the Prime Minister’s office requesting an increase in funding for CSIG program.
|
Mr Boyd, Executive Director Performance Audit Services Group, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4.
|
|
18 October 2018
|
Minister’s office emails the Prime Minister’s office a copy of the letter of 17 October 2018 and a spreadsheet labelled ‘Copy of Electorate Divisions of Applications’.
|
ANAO, answers to written questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 4. See also ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 3.
|
|
8 November 2018
|
Meeting held between the minister’s Chief of Staff, Senior Adviser and Sport Australia’s Executive Director of Sports Partnerships.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 5.
|
|
Sport Australia provides the minister’s office with a spreadsheet which contained funding recommendations, yet to be considered by the industry panel at a meeting planned for 9 November 2018. Sport Australia’s spreadsheet was used by the minister’s office to develop another version of the spreadsheet for the purpose of advocating for increased program funding. Compared to Sport Australia’s spreadsheet, the Minister’s office version:
colour-coded the electorate for each application to identify which party currently held the seat;
inserted columns for electorate status (marginal, target or blank); and
analysed the distribution of funding by state/territory and political party.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 5. See also ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 4.
|
|
9 November 2018
|
Assessment panel meets to make recommendations to the board. The panel agrees with 418 of the 422 applications by Sport Australia’s assessment team.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 29 and 36.
|
|
Meeting arranged between the minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s office for 20 November 2018.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4.
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|
12 November 2018
|
Sport Australia Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) committee discuss the minister taking ‘an active role’ in decision-making and conclude that the minister was acting within her approval right and that risks had been raised in an appropriate way with her office.
|
Mr John Wylie, Chair, Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Committee Hansard, 27 August 2020, p. 22.
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|
13 November 2018
|
A list of 426 applications recommended by the assessment panel is presented to the board for endorsement.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 36.
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|
16 November 2018
|
Minister’s office emails a spreadsheet to the Prime Minister’s office to demonstrate what the CSIG program would look like if funding was increased to $100 million. The colour-coded spreadsheet identifies 601 projects as being able to be funded, and identifies which applications are in marginal and targeted seats.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4. See also ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 2; ANAO answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 4.
|
|
17 November 2018
|
Minister formally writes to the Prime Minister proposing that the CSIG program be increased.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4.
|
|
All board members provide their endorsement to the recommendations put forward by the assessment panel.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 36.
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19 November 2018
|
Minister’s office emails the Prime Minister’s office a spreadsheet to show what the CSIG program would look like with a $30 million budget. The colour-coded spreadsheet identifies 196 proposed successful projects and whether they are in marginal or targeted seats.
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Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4. See also ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 2; ANAO answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 4.
|
|
Minister meets with her Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor in preparation for a meeting with the Prime Minister planned for 20 November 2018, with respect to the request for an increase in funding. After the meeting, the Senior Advisor prepares four pages of talking points for the meeting with the Prime Minister setting out what could be achieved by increasing the size of the project from $30 million to $100 million. This included comparing the number of applications in marginal and targeted seats that that could be funded under those respective figures.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4–5.
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|
20 November 2018
|
Original date for the meeting between the minister and the Prime Minster. The meeting was moved to 28 November 2018.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 4.
|
|
Minister’s office tells Sport Australia the minister is seeking additional funding but that the amount would not be known until approximately 10 December 2018.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 69.
|
|
|
The minister’s office records:
705 projects in ‘marginal’ and ‘targeted’ seats
that it considered representations from several senators and members in addition to having ‘spoken directly to other Members and Duty-Senators and some cross-bench on key priorities – with a priority on marginal and targeted seats’; and
developed a list of projects that could be funded under a $29.7 million program, and another under a $100 million program.
|
Auditor-General’s report, pp. 38–39. See also Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, pp. 11–12.
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|
22 November 2018
|
Sport Australia decides to put the brief to the minister with its recommendations ‘on hold’ on advice from the minister’s office that the amount of funding was likely to be increased.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 36.
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|
28 November 2018
|
Meeting between minister and Prime Minister about expanding the CSIG program. Subsequent correspondence confirms that the funding would increase from $30 million to $100 million.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 11.
|
|
3 December 2018
|
Minister’s office advises Sport Australia of an additional $30.3 million in project funding for the CSIG program and that the first 202 projects to be funded had been selected by the minister. Sport Australia seeks clarification of the list of projects including whether the ‘rating system provided by Sport Australia’ was used.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 69. Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 13. See also Auditor-General’s report, p. 68.
|
|
Representations made by Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for two projects on a ‘Wish List/Fighting For List’ in the electorate of Indi. One of those projects was funded.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
5 December 2018
|
Minister’s office provides Sport Australia with a list of 236 ‘approved’ projects. The board-endorsed list was never subsequently provided to the minister.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 46 and 36.
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|
|
CSIG program manager emails the minister's office concerning risks associated with the approval process. The email notes that:
reasons should be recorded where a recommendation is rejected;
there would be a reputational risk where funding decisions are perceived as favouring localised projects that did not meet the assessment criteria; and
the minister may need to defend her decisions at Senate Estimates where those decisions did not follow the recommendations from the panel which followed a rigorous, transparent and defensible process.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), p. 2.
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7 December 2018
|
The minister’s office requests Sport Australia amend the list of recommended projects as the Prime Minister’s office advised that there were some projects on the list funded under another grants program. The affected electorates are Denison, Hinkler and Gippsland.
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Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020).
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|
|
Sport Australia submits to the minister a list of 221 recommended projects. The list was not that endorsed by the board on 17 November 2018 but rather was informed by a list that had been provided to Sport Australia by the minister’s office on 5 December 2018. There was a decrease in projects from 426 (valued at $28.7 million) to 221 projects (valued at $28.3 million).
|
Auditor-General’s report, pp. 48 and 69.
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|
Minister’s office sends the Prime Minister’s office an updated spreadsheet identifying 236 approved applications.
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ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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9 December 2018
|
CSIG program manager emails the minister’s office highlighting problems with the projects submitted for approval. The email notes that:
16 applications identified for funding by the minister’s office were ‘not recommended for funding’;
130 projects of the 221 recommended projects did not match the original brief;
some projects were ineligible under the program guidelines; and
some projects received very low scores placing them in a high-risk category.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27
February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), p. 4. See also Auditor-General’s report, p. 70.
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10 December 2018
|
The minister’s office notes Sport Australia’s advice of 9 December 2018, and advises that the minister had chosen to continue to approve one of the 16 applications that Sport Australia had highlighted as not recommended for funding. The reason provided was that ‘the other project in the same region is being funded through another source’. The minister’s office added a further five projects to the list of approved applications and removed another five projects.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 70.
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Minister’s office provides Sport Australia with a list of 222 approved projects.
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Auditor-General’s report, p. 48. See also Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (17 July 2020), p. 418.
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Minister’s office emails the Prime Minister’s office a letter thanking the Prime Minister for meeting on 28 November 2018 and confirming that an additional $30.3 million in program funding was to be provided to award further grants, with announcements to be made in late January/early February 2019.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 16.
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11 December 2018
|
Sport Australia provides a list of 223 recommended projects to the minister’s office for approval. The minister approves the list by signing the approval briefing. Subsequent to this decision, Sport Australia is advised by the minister’s office of other changes on 13 and 20 December 2018.
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Auditor-General’s report, p. 40 and 48. See also Department of Health, answer to question on notice no. 12, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
Sitting Coalition members and non-government sitting members advised of funding outcomes.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 60 – 61.
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13 December 2018
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Minister’s office advises Sport Australia to remove one project and add one project to the approved list.
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Auditor-General’s report, p. 49.
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|
Minister’s office returns to Sport Australia a signed approval brief, dated 11 December 2018. There is no list of projects attached, and changes continue to be made on the list up until 20 December 2018.
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ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), [p. 5].
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The FAR committee within Sport Australia discuss and note the risks relating to minister’s deviation from merits assessment process.
|
See ‘Minutes of Meeting No. 107’ in Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), [p. 11].
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14 December 2018
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Representation made by Country Liberal Party candidate for Solomon for a project (which did not receive funding).
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ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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17 December 2018
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Government announces additional $30.3 million in 2018–19 to expand the CSIG program.
|
Commonwealth of Australia, Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2018–19, December 2018, p. 190.
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18 December 2018
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The Hon Christopher Pyne MP announces grant for Hectorville Sports and Community Club.
|
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Defence and Leader of the House, ‘Hectorville to benefit from $500,000 Community Sport Infrastructure Grant’, Media Release, 18 December 2018.
|
|
20 December 2018
|
Minister’s office advises Sport Australia to remove two projects and add one project to the approved list.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 49.
|
|
The finalised list of projects appears in the spreadsheet updated on 20 December 2018.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 5.
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|
21 December 2018
|
Sport Australia sought and received final approval for 224 grants for Round 1 at a total value of $28.7 million. Of the 224 approved projects: 91 (41 per cent) were not included in the 426 recommended for funding at the conclusion of Sport Australia’s assessment process.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 70.
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|
Successful Round 1 applicants advised in writing. Unsuccessful applicants advised they would be considered for funding in Round 2.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 60–61.
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|
Round 2
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|
|
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4 January 2019
|
Representations by Liberal candidate for Mayo to the minister’s office for three projects, two of which were awarded funding.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
9 January 2019
|
Seven versions of the spreadsheet with Round 2 projects circulated between 9 January and 4 February 2019. Most of the versions were circulated within the minister’s office to Sport Australia. One version was provided to the Prime Minister’s office in response to a request for details of the proposed grants for Round 2.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 5.
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23 January 2019
|
Further representations by Liberal candidate for Mayo to the minister’s office for the Yankalilla Bowling Club.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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25 January 2019
|
Sport Australia initiates the lodgement of their list of 204 recommended projects to the minister through the Department of Health. Within 20 minutes, and before the list was received by the minister, Sport Australia requested the department withdraw the submission. This was because the minister’s office had advised Sport Australia that ‘there may be a late change to the submission’.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 71.
|
|
The minister visits the Wangaratta Clay Target Club.
|
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Submission 44, p. 18.
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|
28 January 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office requests details of the proposed grants for Round 2.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
29 January 2019
|
Minister’s office provides Sport Australia with a list of 236 projects identified for Round 2 funding.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 71. ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 5.
|
|
The minister becomes a member of the Australian Clay Target Association through its affiliate the Wangaratta Clay Target Club.
|
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Submission 44, p. 18.
|
|
30 January 2019
|
Representations from Nationals candidate to the minister’s office for a project (which did not receive funding).
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
1 February 2019
|
Sport Australia receives an email from the minister’s office including a table of projects in the body of the email.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July), [p. 419].
|
|
Sport Australia provides the minister’s office with a revised list of recommended projects for Round 2.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 71.
|
|
Minister’s office provides the Prime Minister’s office with a spreadsheet with the successful projects for Round 2. The list includes 232 projects, the number approved for Round 2.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
3 February 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office advises the minister’s office that the Prime Minister had not had a chance to look at the list of clubs provided on 1 February 2019.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
4 February 2019
|
Minister approves and signs the brief agreeing to projects that will receive funding for Round 2.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 50. See also ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 5.
|
|
Round 2 grant decisions announced. Sitting Coalition members advised. Non-government sitting members received a letter dated 4 February 2019.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 60.
|
|
At the request of the Prime Minister’s office, a spreadsheet is provided by the minister’s office titled ‘unfunded projects.xlsx’ comprising unfunded projects with a score of 60 or higher.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
Representation from Liberal National Party of Queensland for a ‘Wish List’ project which was awarded funding. Representation from Nationals candidate for a project (which did not receive funding).
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
5 February 2019
|
Signed approval brief returned to Sport Australia with an attached spreadsheet identifying the applications that were approved for funding.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 5.
|
|
Sport Australia receives an email from the minister’s office that included a spreadsheet that was not colour-coded.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July), [p. 419].
|
|
10 February 2019
|
Treasurer and minister release a joint media release about CSIG grant funding for the redevelopment of Ikon Park in Carlton valued at $15 million.
|
The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, Treasurer, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie and the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP Minister for Jobs, Industrial Relations & Women, ‘Victoria’s home of AFLW ready for redevelopment’, Media Release, 10 February 2019.
|
|
13 February 2019
|
The Glen Eira Council’s project receives funding, after a delay in announcement from December 2018 at the request of the minister’s office.
|
See Auditor-General’s report, p. 61. See also ANAO, answers to written questions on notice, 2 September 2020, (received 25 September 2020), p. 1.
|
|
22 February 2019
|
Representation from Liberal candidate for a project (which did not receive funding), sent to the minister’s office and copying in the Prime Minister’s office.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20 , 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
Emails exchanged between Sport Australia and the Prime Minister’s office regarding the Prime Minister’s attendance at CSIG grant event in his electorate.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, Letter to the President of the Senate responding to Order for the Production of Document No 378, 13 February 2020, p. 10–11.
|
|
23 February 2019
|
Ms Georgina Downer, Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Mayo, presents mock 'cheque' to Yankalilla Bowling Club.
|
See Shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Letter to the Auditor-General dated 24 February 2019, accessed 21 December 2020.
|
|
24 February 2019
|
Shadow Attorney-General requests that the Auditor-General investigated circumstances surrounding presentation of the mock 'cheque'.
|
See Shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Letter to the Auditor-General dated 24 February 2019, accessed 21 December 2020.
|
|
Round 3
|
|
|
|
March 2019
|
Auditor-General commences an audit into CSIG program.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, Committee Hansard, 13 February 2020, p. 1.
|
|
1 March 2019
|
Minister’s office requests all applications that were unsuccessful in the first two rounds.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 56.
|
|
3 March 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office requests the minister’s office provide a list of unfunded projects, including what another round valued at $30 million would look like.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 7.
|
|
4 March 2019
|
Minister’s office sends a copy of a spreadsheet listing unfunded projects to the Prime Minister’s office. It includes projects with a cut-off score of 60.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2. See also Mr Brian Boyd, Executive Director Performance Audit Services Group, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 17.
|
|
Minister's office requests a copy of the CSIG application form from Sport Australia.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 72.
|
|
The first version of a spreadsheet for Round 3 projects is created in the minister’s office.
|
ANAO, answers to questions on notice, 13 February 2020 (received 25 February 2020), p. 6.
|
|
Departmental records for 4 March 2019 indicate that six potential ‘extra’ projects had already been identified for funding under the third round.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 72.
|
|
5 March 2019
|
The CSIG program manager advises the minister's office by email that the program has closed and it would be inappropriate to invite applications on an ad hoc basis outside the program. The email also notes that the request for a copy of unsuccessful applications was inappropriate, and that both requests carry ‘risk to the integrity of processes built into the existing program’.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 72. See also Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 March 2020), [p. 6].
|
|
The minister’s office, in response, advises that the reason for the blank forms is for budget advocacy. The additional $42.5 million for a third round of the CSIG program had already been sought and was approved in the 2019 Budget context that same day.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 72.
|
|
6 March 2019
|
After seeking advice from the Department of Health, Sport Australia provides the minister’s office with a copy of the application form.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 72.
|
|
Representations made by the Prime Minister’s office for five projects on the ‘Wish List/Fighting for List’, all of which were funded.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
7–13 March 2019
|
232 successful Round 2 grant recipients notified.
|
Auditor-General's report, p. 58.
|
|
8 March 2019
|
Minister’s office provides the Member for Berowra a copy of the CSIG application form and advises that the process for submitting an application was for the completed form and supporting documentation to be provided to the minister’s office. The opportunity to make a late application was not made public or provided to other recipients beyond those identified by the minister’s office.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 73, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), [p. 1].
|
|
10 March 2019
|
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reports that the unelected Liberal candidate for Hindmarsh, Jake Hall-Evans, presented a ‘letter of notification’ to the Semaphore Bowling Club which informed the club that it had been awarded a $65,000 grant.
|
Mr Eryk Bagshaw, ‘Coalition accused of pork-barrelling grans in marginal seats’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 March 2019 (accessed 21 December 2020).
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|
14 March 2019
|
ANAO notifies Sport Australia that it is starting an audit of the CSIG program. A letter formally advising of the commencement of the audit was sent the following day.
|
ANAO, answers to written questions on notice, 11 September 2020 (received 25 September 2020), p. 1.
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|
18 March 2019
|
Minister’s office sends the Prime Minister’s office a draft list of 225 successful projects for Round 3.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
20 March 2019
|
Minister’s office sends the Prime Minister’s office an updated list of 219 successful projects. The updated list removes 14 applications and adds eight applications.
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ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
|
Minister’s office directs Sport Australia to undertake merit assessments of four resubmitted and five new CSIG applications. The minister’s office advises that these projects have been ‘identified as emerging priorities’ in accordance with section 8.1 of the program guidelines. The opportunity to amend existing applications or submit new applications was not advertised or otherwise made available more broadly.
|
Auditor-General’s report, pp. 29, 30 and 72.
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|
Minister’s office receives a CSIG application form and supporting documentation from the Member for Berowra, and forwards it to Sport Australia.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 73, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), [p. 1].
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|
21 March 2019
|
Minister’s office provides Sport Australia with a list of Round 3 projects.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 50.
|
|
Prime Minister and Treasurer announce $60 million in funding to date for the CSIG program.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP and the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, ‘Education hub to build culture and diversity at Punt Road’, Media Release, 21 March 2019.
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22 March 2019
|
CSIG program manager reiterates concerns of 5 March 2019 and advises the minister's office that the application process closed on 14 September 2018 and it would be inappropriate to invite new applications or amend existing applications.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 30. See also Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), [p. 8].
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|
|
Minister’s office responds to Sport Australia that the new applications were all constructed according to the guidelines and were considered ‘priorities that have not been met’. The minister’s office requests that Sport Australia prepare a list of recommendations for Round 3 and provides the names of nine new and revised applications that the minister has identified as ‘emerging issues since the completion of the assessment process’.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), [p. 32–33].
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|
25 March 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office sends back to the minister’s office the list of 225 successful projects received on 18 March 2019 and asks if ‘one project that had been removed between the 18 March and 20 March versions was likely to be awarded CSIG funding noting that it was a priority for the local Coalition member’. That project was not subsequently funded.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
|
|
Sport Australia receives a follow-up request from minister’s office to prepare funding recommendations for Round 3 including consideration of nine new or revised applications.
|
Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), [p. 32].
|
|
Prime Minister’s office notes on a spreadsheet that ‘Minister Payne will support for this to be included in the next round’ against a project in the electorate of Macquarie, which was ultimately funded.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
26 March 2019
|
Prime Minister's office advises minister's office that it is expected minister will write to Prime Minister to seek 'authority' on approved projects and advise 'roll out plan'.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
29 March 2019
|
Minister’s office, in response to a request from the Prime Minister’s office ‘to assist with media’, sends a PDF titled ‘Complete list rnd 1 and 2.pdf’. This was an extract of a spreadsheet including only the columns: ‘Applicant’ ‘Project Title’ ‘Grant Amount’ ‘Electorate’ ‘Party’ ‘State’ and ‘Description’.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 2.
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|
30 March 2019
|
Prime Minister and minister jointly announce an additional $40 million for third round of the CSIG program.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia and Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation, ‘Backing sporting communities and women in sport’, Media Release, 30 March 2019.
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|
2 April 2019
|
Additional funding of $42.5 million dollars for Round 3 of the CSIG program is confirmed in the budget.
|
Commonwealth of Australia, Budget Measures: Budget Paper No. 2 2019–20, p. 93. See also senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation, ‘Budget 2019: Investing in our national sports plan’, Media Release, 2 April 2019.
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|
3 April 2019
|
Sport Australia submits a brief to the minister’s office with its recommendations for Round 3 via email to the Department of Health, copying in the minister’s office.
The brief includes two attachments: a list of 245 applications recommended for funding; and a list of remaining applications that were not recommended for funding.
The brief advises the minister to record reasons for rejecting or changing recommended applications (per 6.1.1 of Grant Management Framework) noting the risks associated with approving these projects.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 73. See also Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 2.
|
|
The senior advisor in the minister’s office emails a spreadsheet to a Departmental Liaison Officer, which was created on 29 March 2019 within the minister’s office and which identifies 220 applications as being approved for funding. This email was sent an hour and eleven minutes after Sport Australia had submitted its brief.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 73. See also Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 3.
|
|
4 April 2019
|
Minister signs decision brief for Round 3. The signed brief had a handwritten note changing Sport Australia’s recommendation to ‘Approve the attached list of round three Community Sport Infrastructure grants Approved by the Minister’.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 73. See also Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 2.
|
|
|
Secretary of the Department of Health seeks advice from her department regarding the status of the minister’s approval in caretaker period. Senior departmental officials recorded that the minister’s office was made aware of the deadline and would ensure the brief was signed before the caretaker period commenced.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 73. See also Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 2.
|
|
Sport Australia emails the minister’s office expressing concern regarding nine additional/new projects included in the list of projects recommended for funding.
|
Sport Australia, answer to question on notice no. 11, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020), [p. 2.]
|
|
5 April 2019
|
Just before entering a Senate Estimates hearing, the CEO of Sport Australia is given a copy of a colour-coded spreadsheet for the first time.
Later that evening, a teleconference is held between the CEO, the Chair of the board and the Secretary of the Department of Health discussing the colour-coded spreadsheets.
|
Ms Kate Palmer, CEO Sport Australia, Committee Hansard, 28 February 2020, p. 12–13.
|
|
At a Senate Estimates hearing, Sport Australia stated that to its knowledge Round 3 grant decisions had not yet been made.
|
Ms Kate Palmer, former CEO Sport Australia, Committee Hansard, 5 April 2019, p. 60. See also Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 2.
|
|
8 April 2019
|
Joint announcement by the Prime Minister and minister of funding for a new national cricket campus in Brisbane.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation, Trevor Evans MP Federal Member for Brisbane, ‘Boost for national cricket campus’, Media Release, 8 April 2019.
|
|
9 April 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office advises the minister’s office that one of the approved projects, a $500,000 grant to the Grange Thistle Soccer Club, has been funded through a separate grants program (Community Development Grants).
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 5.
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|
10 April 2019
|
Minister writes to Prime Minister advising him of 220 projects she intends to approve for Round 3 funding, attaching colour-coded spreadsheet summarising approved projects showing distribution by state, political party and electorate. The letter notes the minister’s intention is to make state-by-state announcements with MPs and candidates throughout the campaign.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 3. See also Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 24.
|
|
|
At 12.45pm, the Prime Minister’s office, in reply, requests that a revised list be provided removing one project and adding another in substitution. The Prime Minister’s office also requested that the roll out ‘gets co-ordinated in conjunction with CHQ’ (campaign headquarters). The project was in the ‘target’ electorate of Kennedy with the substitute project for the Hawthorn-Malvern Hockey Centre located in the electorate of Kooyong.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 4; Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 3.
|
|
In reply, the minister’s office informed the Prime Minister’s office that it did not intend to remove the Kennedy project as it was a ‘very important one for the region’ and ‘the Minister is due to visit Kennedy with the LNP candidate’ who has been ‘pushing’ for the project.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 3.
|
|
At 11.46pm, the minister’s office writes to the Prime Minister’s office advising that ‘[t]he Minister has signed off on all the projects – we will send the brief to Sport Australia tomorrow. We wanted to wait until after estimates before sending’.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
Appearing at Senate Estimates, Sport Australia informed the Community Affairs Legislation Committee that funding decisions had not yet been made.
|
Ms Kate Palmer, CEO Sport Australia, Committee Hansard, 10 April 2019, p. 104.
|
|
11 April 2019
|
2019 federal election announced and, at 8.29am, Parliament is prorogued.
|
Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General, Proclamation, 11 April 2019.
|
|
At 12.51am, the Prime Minister’s office emails the minister’s office to advise that the application being removed (per the request on 10 April 2020) had been funded under another grant program. At 7.13am, the Minister’s office responded advising that the requested substitution would be made an updated spreadsheet circulated.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 4; Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
At 8.27am, the signed brief, dated 4 April 2019, is scanned by an administrative staff member in the minister’s office and sent to the minister’s senior advisor. There was no list of approved projects attached to the scanned briefing.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 2; Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
At 8.46am, the minister’s office emails Sport Australia with the signed brief and a spreadsheet attachment identifying which projects would be funded for Round 3.
The spreadsheet replaced the list of projects recommended by Sport Australia. The minister’s replacement list approved 228 grants, 73 per cent of which had not been recommended by Sport Australia. On the signed brief, the minister notes the risks identified, and writes ‘[e]xecuted as many agreements as possible by 30/6/19’.
|
Mr Luke McCann, CEO, Sport Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 March 2020, p. 32; Auditor-General’s report, p. 50; Sport Australia, answers to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), [p. 1484].
|
|
At 8.47am, the minister’s office emails the Prime Minister’s office with a list of projects to be funded for Round 3 in a PDF format.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 4.
|
|
|
At 8.54am, in response, the Prime Minister’s office asks Minister’s office for the list in spreadsheet format to ‘cross check against our list and also be able to pull individual projects out to coordinate announcements and material CCHQ’ (campaign headquarters)’. The minister’s office agreed to do this but the next version provided at 11.48am was the same PDF, which led to a further request from the Prime Minister’s office at 12.02pm.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 4; Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
At 12.04pm, the minister’s office responded to the Prime Minister’s office again agreeing to provide the spreadsheet and advising that ‘there are a couple of mistakes which we are fixing – we were just missing a couple of additional projects’.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
At 12.35pm, the minister’s office sends the Prime Ministers’ office the list of approved projects in a spreadsheet format and noted that there had been errors in list provided earlier that morning. Compared to the earlier PDF version, the spreadsheet includes five new applications and three amended applications.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 70, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 4. Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 4.
|
|
|
At 12.43pm, the minister’s office advises Sport Australia that the earlier ministerial brief and attachment, sent at 8.46am, contained errors. The minister’s office provides Sport Australia with an updated spreadsheet of 223 projects to be funded in Round 3.
Between the 8.46am and 12.43pm, a total of 11 changes were made to the list of approved projects. The total value of the changes was an increase of $2,767,071.
In a subsequent email to the Department of Health, Sport Australia identifies a number of issues with the updated spreadsheet, including, that it contains six applications about which Sport Australia has ‘no knowledge and no application form’.
|
See also Auditor-General’s report, p. 50; Mr Luke McCann, CEO, Sport Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 March 2020, p. 32. Auditor-General’s report, p. 50; Sport Australia, answer to question no notice no. 17, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020); Sport Australia, answers to question on notice no. 6, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020).
|
|
At 4.32pm Sport Australia sought advice from the Department of Health regarding the application of caretaker conventions. The response is received on 12 April 2019.
|
Sport Australia, answers to question on notice no. 6, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020).
|
|
At 9.10pm, the Prime Minister’s office asked the minister’s office to confirm that the Grange Thistle Soccer Club application for a $500,000 grant was on the approved projects list, and it was re-included in the final version of the spreadsheet as being approved for funding.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, correspondence received 16 April 2019, p. 5.
|
|
|
Minister’s office notes support from a Nationals candidate for a project in the electorate of Kennedy, which was put forward for approval, but ultimately removed on advice from the Prime Minister’s office that it had been funded under another program.
|
ANAO, answer to question on notice no. 72, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 2 March 2020 (received 7 May 2020), p. 3.
|
|
12 April 2019
|
Sport Australia writes again to the Department of Health regarding the application of caretaker conventions and notes that the minister has started to make announcements. The department recommends that advice should be sought from the Executive level to determine whether Sport Australia goes ahead and contacts the successful applicants.
|
Sport Australia, answers to question on notice no. 6, Senate Additional Estimates 2019–20, 4 March 2020 (received 11 May 2020).
|
|
18 April 2019
|
Sport Australia seeks advice from the Department of Health on the wording of grant advice letters, noting that they are to be sent out on 23 April 2019.
|
Sport Australia, answers to written questions on notice, 11 September 2020 (received 14 December 2020), [p. 11].
|
|
23 April 2019
|
Successful Round 3 grant recipients notified.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 60.
|
|
26 April 2019
|
Unsuccessful Round 3 grant recipients notified.
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 60.
|
|
1 May 2019
|
Prime Minister announces funding for a new football centre in Western Australia.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, ‘New home for football in West Australia’, Media Release, 1 May 2019.
|
|
5 May 2019
|
Email exchange with the Prime Minister’s office regarding sporting announcements that can ‘super charge the PM as a sporting hero’.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, Letter to the President of the Senate responding to Order for the Production of Document No 378, 13 February 2020, [p. 17].
|
|
15 May 2019
|
Former CEO of Sport Australia, Ms Kate Palmer, corrects evidence given at Senate Estimates on 5 and 10 April 2019 to explain that some projects, approved by the minister, were not recommended by Sport Australia.
|
Ms Kate Palmer, CEO, Sport Australia, correspondence regarding evidence given on 5 April 2019, received 15 May 2019; Ms Kate Palmer, CEO, Sport Australia, correspondence regarding evidence given on 10 April 2019, received 15 May 2019.
|
|
17 May 2019
|
Minister announces over $100 million spent on the three rounds of the CSIG program. The announcement lists the successful projects, the amount of the grant, and the electorate that they are located in.
|
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Sport, ‘Investing in local community sporting facilities’, Media Release, 17 May 2019.
|
|
18 May 2019
|
2019 federal election day. Coalition Government returned.
|
|
|
29 May 2019
|
Senator Richard Colbeck replaces Senator McKenzie as Minister for Sport.
|
Australian Parliament House website, Biography for Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00AOL (accessed 4 January 2021).
|
|
13–17 June 2019
|
Sport Australia advises nine applicants in Round 3 whose projects were deemed 'emerging priorities' that they are successful
|
Auditor-General’s report, p. 50.
|
|
21 June 2019
|
Email exchange with the Prime Minister’s office regarding the Prime Minister’s attendance at an event relating to a successful grant project.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, Letter to the President of the Senate responding to Order for the Production of Document No 378, received 13 February 2020, [p. 22].
|
|
4 July 2019
|
Prime Minister’s office requests Sport Australia prepare a media release and talking points in relation to a grant for the Sans Souci Football Club.
|
Sport Australia, answer to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), p. 40.
|
|
8 July 2019
|
Sport Australia emails the Prime Minister’s office about attending a launch event for a grant funded project.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, Letter to the President of the Senate responding to Order for the Production of Document No 378, received 13 February 2020, [p. 27].
|
|
10 July 2019
|
Sport Australia receives confirmation that Prime Minister would visit the Sans Souci Football Club to announce a grant.
|
Sport Australia, answer to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), p. 41.
|
|
11 July 2019
|
Prime Minister attends Sans Souci Football Club to announce grant.
|
Sport Australia, answer to questions on notice, 27 February 2020 (received 17 July 2020), p.43.
|
|
21 August 2019
|
The Prime Minister, by letter, requests that community sport infrastructure female facilities and water safety stream, and sport infrastructure projects valued at $2 million or less in the Community Development Grants program be transferred to the Department of Health. This followed a process whereby departments consulted with each other about what election commitments were made, and how to most efficiently and effectively deliver on those commitments.
|
Ms Marisa Purvis-Smith, First Assistant Secretary Regional Development, Local Government and COVID Regional Recover, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Committee Hansard, 22 July 2020, p. 25.
|
|
28 October 2019
|
Sport Australia announces CEO Kate Palmer to step down when her contract ends on 31 January 2020.
|
Mr Nigel Benton, ‘Kate Palmer departs Chief Executive role at Sport Australia’, Australian Leisure Management (accessed 4 January 2021).
|
|
14 November 2019
|
ANAO provides its draft audit report to relevant parties for comment, including an advisor to the Prime Minister.
|
Mr Brian Boyd, ANAO, Committee Hansard, 13 February 2020, p. 4.
|
|
December 2019
|
Sport Australia seeks legal advice as to whether Sport Australia had acted within its powers in carrying out its role in the CSIG program. This advice was not provided to the minister or the minister’s office, or anyone outside of Sport Australia’s board, management and legal advisors.
|
Sport Australia, answer to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 9.
|
|
15 January 2020
|
Auditor-General finalises its audit report of the CSIG program. The report is tabled in the Senate on 4 February 2020.
|
Auditor-General, Audit Report No. 23 of 2019–20 – Performance audit – Award of funding under the Community Sport Infrastructure Program – Australian Sports Commission, 15 January 2020 (tabled 4 February 2020).
|
|
Minister for Sport responds to the ANAO report.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Youth and Sport, ‘ANAO report into the Community Sport Infrastructure program’, Media Release, 15 January 2020.
|
|
17 January 2020
|
Prime Minister requests that Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPM&C) review whether minister breached Statement of Ministerial Standards.
|
Ms Stephanie Foster PSM, Deputy Secretary, Governance Group, DPM&C, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 2 March 2020, p. 49.
|
|
22 January 2020
|
Prime Minister and Minister for Health announce Secretary of the Department of Health decision to retire.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister, ‘Secretary of the Department of Health’, Media Release, 22 January 2020.
|
|
Secretary of DPM&C writes to Senator McKenzie asking questions in relation to his review of Senator McKenzie’s conduct under the Ministerial Standards.
|
Mr Phillip Gaetjens, DPM&C, Committee Hansard, 22 July 2020, p. 13.
|
|
Australian Government Solicitor and Attorney-General’s Department staff meet as a part of the Attorney-General’s consultation on the question of the minister’s legal authority.
|
Attorney-General’s Department, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 17 September 2020), [p. 3].
|
|
28 January 2020
|
Secretary of DPM&C seeks information from the Auditor-General in relation to his review of Senator McKenzie’s conduct under the Ministerial Standards. The Auditor-General advises that legislative requirements prevent the disclosure of information; however, the Secretary was referred to the Department of Health and the Department of Infrastructure.
|
Mr Grant Hehir, Auditor-General, Committee Hansard, 2 September 2020, p. 2.
|
|
ABC publishes information raising concerns about minister's funding decisions.
|
Mr Andrew Probyn, ‘Sport Australia Complained about political interference in the Government’s sports grants program’, ABC, 28 January 2020.
|
|
29 January 2020
|
In an interview at the National Press Club, the Prime Minister says ‘[a]ll we did was provide information based on the representations made to us as every prime minister has always done’.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, Transcript of Q and A: National Press Club, ACT, 29 January 2020.
|
|
Secretary of DPM&C interviews Senator McKenzie in relation to his review of Ministerial Standards.
|
Mr Phillip Gaetjens, DPM&C, Committee Hansard, 22 July 2020, p. 13.
|
|
30 January 2020
|
Kate Palmer concludes her contract as CEO of Sport Australia.
|
Ms Kate Palmer, Private capacity, Committee Hansard, 28 February 2020, p. 1.
|
|
DPM&C receives a copy of the ‘talking points’ memo prepared by the minister’s office for a meeting with the Prime Minister, which took place on 28 November 2019.
|
Ms Stephanie Foster PSM, Deputy Secretary, Governance Group, DPM&C, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Estimates Hearing Hansard, 20 October 2020, p. 75.
|
|
31 January 2020
|
Meeting between Secretary of DPM&C and Prime Minister to discuss his report on the review of Senator McKenzie’s conduct under the Ministerial Standards.
|
Mr Phillip Gaetjens, Secretary, DPM&C, Committee Hansard, 22 July 2020, p. 17.
|
|
Follow-up meeting between Australian Government Solicitor and Attorney-General’s Department staff as a part of the Attorney-General’s consultation on the question of the minister’s legal authority.
|
Attorney-General’s Department, answers to questions on notice, 2 September 2020 (received 17 September 2020), [p. 3].
|
|
1 February 2020
|
Secretary of DPM&C presents results of review to Prime Minister.
|
Ms Stephanie Foster, DPM&C, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 2 March 2020, p. 50.
|
|
2 February 2020
|
Prime Minister announces Senator McKenzie's resignation from ministry.
|
Mr Phillip Gaetjens, DPM&C, Committee Hansard, 22 July 2020, p. 13.
|
|
3 February 2020
|
Robert Dalton becomes the acting CEO of Sport Australia.
|
Sport Australia, ‘Robert Dalton appointed Acting CEO of Sport Australia’, Media Release, 4 February 2020.
|
|
5 February 2020
|
Senate establishes Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants.
|
Journals of the Senate, No. 37, 5 February 2020, pp. 1208–1209.
|
|
27 February 2020
|
Chair of board agrees to provide committee with legal advice relating to the power to approve award of funding under grant program administered by Sport Australia.
|
Mr John Wylie, ASC, Committee Hansard, 27 February 2020, p. 15. See also Sport Australia, answer to written questions on notice, 10 March 2020 (received 13 May 2020), p. 9.
|
|
28 February 2020
|
Secretary of the Department of Health retires.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister, ‘Secretary of the Department of Health’, Media Release, 22 January 2020.
|
|
3 March 2020
|
Minister for Sport and Youth meets with Sport Australia CEO and Chair.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Sport and Youth, Community Affairs Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 4 March 2020, p. 36.
|
|
Minister for Sport and Youth meets with staff within the Prime Minister’s office.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Sport and Youth, Community Affairs Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 4 March 2020, p. 39.
|
|
When asked about the correspondence between his office and the minister’s office during the CSIG program administration, the Prime Minister tells journalists that his office ‘passed on representations’ about funding options for sporting infrastructure projects.
|
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, Transcript of interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB, 3 March 2020; The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, Transcript of interview with Leigh Sales, 7:30, ABC, 3 March 2020.
|
|
4 March 2020
|
Minister for Sport and Youth appears at Senate Estimates.
|
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Sport and Youth, Community Affairs Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 4 March 2020.
|
|
5 March 2020
|
Senator McKenzie issues a statement advising that she did not authorise changes to ministerial decision brief or attachments after 4 April 2019.
|
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, ‘Statement regarding Senate Estimates’, 5 March 2020 (tabled 12 March 2020).
|