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Several NSW Labor ministers, MPs and candidates promised hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of funding as part of the government\u2019s controversial grant program to community organisations they were personally involved in.<\/p>\n
The Local Small Commitments Allocation program saw every Labor MP and candidate in each of the state\u2019s 93 electorates during the March state election given $400,000 to distribute to local community projects in their area, pending a probity checking process.<\/p>\n
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Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris nominated Soldiers Beach SLSC for $20,000 \u2013 a club where he previously served as president and is still a member.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Dion Georgopoulos<\/cite><\/p>\n So far, according to documents released to the parliament in November, 48 of the 439 projects nominated by Labor MPs and candidates have been approved, with others still being assessed or rejected.<\/p>\n The documents show Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris handed over $20,000 to the Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club \u2013 a club he was a former president and current member of \u2013 for a new paint job.<\/p>\n Harris, who served as president of the Central Coast club for over six years until 2016, told the parliament in September he had recently renewed his membership: \u201cI recommend a visit to Soldiers Beach to all members who might be looking for somewhere to get away and have a bit of a break.\u201d<\/p>\n A premier\u2019s department assessment outcome report approving funding for the Soldiers Beach SLSC does not mention Harris\u2019s involvement with the club.<\/p>\n The Herald<\/em> is not suggesting any MPs benefited financially from their awarding of grants. Labor has defended the grants program, saying it had been intentionally designed to prevent pork-barrelling. The government had taken the \u201cextraordinary step\u201d to put every single project through a \u201crigorous probity process\u201d, a spokeswoman for Premier Chris Minns said in late August.<\/p>\n Under the ongoing Community Building Partnership programs, community organisations nominate themselves for funding, and the department selects a list of projects for the local MP to choose from.<\/p>\n Likewise, Pittwater candidate Jeffrey Quinn promised $50,000 to Northern Beaches Community Connect, a not-for-profit organisation providing support and assistance to residents of Sydney\u2019s north-eastern enclave.<\/p>\n A former school teacher and director of tutoring provider Frontrunner Learning Centres, Quinn sits on the Community Connect\u2019s board of directors, according to the organisation\u2019s website and documents lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.<\/p>\n During his unsuccessful tilt for the northern NSW seat of Clarence, candidate Leon Ankersmit also promised $40,000 to Anglicare North Coast, the Christian not-for-profit he served as chief executive until he resigned to unsuccessfully run for Labor\u2019s campaign in October.<\/p>\n Funding approval for both Anglicare North Coast and Community Connect is still pending. Harris, Quinn and Ankersmit did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n A spokesman for the NSW government said: \u201cEvery single project is subject to a rigorous probity, community benefit and value-for-money assessment process, including by an expert independent assessment panel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndependent probity advisors have been appointed to advise on the management of conflicts of interest and provide probity advice as part of the assessment and approval process.\u201d<\/p>\n The revelations come just months after this masthead revealed Labor Camden MP Sally Quinnell promised $75,000 to a musical society she helped establish and served as a committee member until June 14, 2022.<\/p>\n The premier\u2019s office at the time said Quinnell had declared her conflict of interest, but the funding was yet to be approved, according to documents released to the parliament.<\/p>\n As has been previously reported, Dubbo candidate Josh Black provided Dubbo Regional Council \u2013 the council he serves on \u2013 with $396,000 for a riverside picnic area. The revelation led to councillor Richard Ivey questioning the lack of transparency in the nomination process.<\/p>\n Labor Balmain candidate Linda Scott\u2019s campaign manager Kieran Ash \u2013 the transport bureaucrat at the centre of the staffing scandal in Jo Haylen\u2019s ministerial office \u2013 initially approached Leichhardt Public School P&C in mid-February, offering $20,000 in grant funding under the Local Small Commitments Allocation.<\/p>\n As reported by this masthead at the time, the offer was ultimately rejected by the P&C, who raised concerns about accepting grants without an open competitive process, saying \u201cwe want to be awarded grants on merit\u201d.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Politics<\/h2>\n
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