By Oliver Lees
A new parliamentary petition has opened calling on the federal government to pay local sporting clubs that missed out on funding through the ‘sports rorts’ scandal.
The Community Infrastructure Grants program was thrown into controversy in 2019 after it was revealed that the deserving programs had been denied funding in order to preference programs in areas of political signficance to the federal governemnt.
The findings ultimately forced former sport minister Bridget McKenzie to resign.
In March, a senate inquiry into the program found “overwhelming evidence” that marginal electorates were targeted in the lead up to the 2019 federal election.
The Senate committee recommended that all programs that passed Sport Australia’s suitability criteria should receive funding for their much needed programs.
Kyneton District Soccer Club was one club that was deemed eligible through the criteria but did not receive funding.
Kyneton District Soccer Club president Ron Cole said his club’s application for $460,000 would help improve the drainage at their oval.
“We’ve missed out on funding through sports rorts and through state government,” he said.
“We’d just really like to get the project done and completed so we can actually use our ground comfortably.”
The petition closes before midnight, June 9.
To view the petition, visit: www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN2620
