Over the past two days, Dominic Perrottet has been unable to outline his role in the bushfire grants rorts.
During the 2019 Black Summer bushfires, Dominic Perrottet was Treasurer and oversaw the NSW Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee.
Commonwealth public servants told Senate estimates that the decision to increase the threshold for bushfire recovery grants came from the NSW cabinet and Expenditure Review Committee.
Yesterday, the Premier was unable to rule out rubberstamping the bushfire grants threshold at his press conference.
MONDAY – ‘NOT THAT I’M AWARE’
JOURNALIST: On bushfire grants Premier, did changes to that New South Wales bushfire grants process go through the ERC stage?
PERROTTET: Not that I’m aware.
TUESDAY – ‘I HAVE TO CHECK’
JOURNALIST: This program you reported to ICAC, could you just clarify, that the ERC did not consider changing the threshold for grants?
PERROTTET: I will have the check that.
JOURNALIST: You said that yesterday.
PERROTTET: I’ll tell you why a bit later. But what I can say is that ERC acts on Treasury advice in relation to grants programs. It is the role of the minister that makes determinations in relation to that allocation.
JOURNALIST: But that doesn’t answer the question, did John Barilaro make the decision and then put it through ERC for a rubber stamp?
PERROTTET: I have to take that on notice and double check. It’s a very important point. You act on the treasury – when matters come before ERC –
JOURNALIST: So it’s not out of the question that John Barilaro took this to ERC for your rubber stamp?
PERROTTET: I have to check.
Dominic Perrottet needs to come out today and outline what he knew and what role he played in a grants process that was changed to pork barrel bushfire grants into Liberal and National held seats.
Quotes attributable to John Graham, NSW Shadow Special Minister of State:
“The Premier has serious questions to answer. Dominic Perrottet chaired the ERC as Treasurer at the time. Did the bushfire grants threshold change go through ERC?
Quotes attributable to Jihad Dib, NSW Shadow Minister for Emergency Services:
“The Premier stayed silent on his role when the auditor general’s report came out two weeks ago. It has taken federal government estimates to bring this to light.”
JOHN GRAHAM MLC
NSW DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
NSW SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
JIHAD DIB MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
