Australian minister Bridget McKenzie to resign after mishandling of $100million

Embattled minister Bridget McKenzie is set to resign over ‘sports rorts’ scandal after using a ‘$100million slush fund to win votes’

Australian minister Bridget McKenzie is expected to resign from her position on the frontbench by Friday afternoon.

The decision comes after she was criticised for her handling of $100 million worth of grants before the May federal election.

Michael McCormack, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg reportedly met overnight to discuss the decision, according to Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell.

Pressure has been mounting for the resignation of Nationals Deputy leader Bridget McKenzie (pictured) over the sports fund scandal 

Mr Morrison referred the embattled cabinet minister’s decision to award a $36,000 grant to a shooting club she was a member of to the head of his department.

The former sports minister is under immense pressure over a $100 million grant scheme the auditor-general found favoured clubs in marginal seats before the election. 

She reportedly favoured organisations in areas where the Coalition was ‘targeting’ voters to help win the federal election.

In fact, the auditor-general found 73 per cent of the projects Senator McKenzie approved were not recommended by Sport Australia, which assessed applicants based on merit.

Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens will check whether her actions breached ministerial standards.

Labor have also called for Senator McKenzie to be sacked over the scandal after the damning auditor-general’s report found most of the cash went to seats the coalition was targeting. 

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the entire situation was ‘a rort’.

‘This is a rort. Bridget McKenzie must resign – and if she won’t, Scott Morrison must sack her,’ he said.

More to come. 

Embattled Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie (pictured) is being investigated by authorities

Embattled Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie (pictured) is being investigated by authorities



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