Luxury sports clubs in prestigious suburbs across Australia have raked in millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants, while poor clubs were left with nothing.
The sports rorts scandal engulfing Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie saw hefty grants from the federal government’s $100million Community Sport Infrastructure scheme dished out to yacht clubs, pony clubs and even a golf club on Sydney’s affluent north shore.
But those in many less-affluent areas came away empty-handed, despite needing desperate maintenance work to even stay open.
Bayview Golf Club in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Mona Vale was gifted $140,000, despite raking in annual subscriptions of up to $2,830 each from its wealthy members.
The Vaucluse Amateur 12″ Sailing Club (pictured) in one of Sydney’s wealthiest areas was given $50,000 in tax-payer-funded grants
Meanwhile the hugely popular Coledale Waves soccer club (pictured) didn’t receive a penny, despite struggling with poor turf, no lighting and lack of a women’s changing room
It boasts of enjoying a ‘recently built state of the art clubhouse’ complete with a ‘stylish members lounge, restaurant and bar’.
Meanwhile, the likes of Cumberland Council, home to Sydney’s poorest suburb Yennora, received a pitiful $35,075 in two small grants.
This is in stark contrast to the lavish $500,000 gifted to Mosman Rowing Club, in one of Sydney’s richest areas, so it can extend its pontoon.
While families in Yennora struggle to get by on a median income of just $19,000, Mosman residents enjoy $73,820 on average.
A similarly exclusive boat club, the Vaucluse Sailing Club, was given $50,000 to buy, among other things, new lighting.
The Byron Bay Cycling Club – a favourite with affluent businessmen wearing lycra – also benefited to the tune of $230,000.
The Main Ridge Pony Club in the picturesque Melbourne suburb of Mornington Peninsula – located in the electorate of health minister Greg Hunt – also raked in $30,000.
The nearby Mordialloc Sailing Club also walked away with $15,000.
Melbourne’s most affluent suburb, Camberwell, also did remarkably well from the controversial handouts.
The East Camberwell Tennis Club got $90,000, the Camberwell Junior Football Club received $10,520, the South Camberwell Tennis Club was handed $15,000 and the Camberwell Hockey Club raked in $38,000.
The sports rorts scandal engulfing Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie saw hefty grants dished out to yacht clubs, pony clubs and even a golf club on Sydney’s affluent north shore.
The state-of-the-art Bayview Golf Club (pictured) was given $140,000 despite raking in annual subscriptions of up to $2,830 each from its wealthy members
Meanwhile suburbs such as Yennora (pictured), one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Sydney, were left with next-to-nothing
Northbridge Sailing Club, in Sydney’s affluent Middle Harbour, was also gifted a huge $75,000 grant.
In contrast, the council for the Melbourne suburb of Wyndham, known for incredibly high levels of illness and poverty, didn’t receive a cent.
Likewise, the working class Coledale Waves soccer club, used by 1,200 players a week, was left with nothing.
Despite having no women’s changing room, poor lighting and unsuitable playing surfaces, the club’s application was rejected in favour of pony clubs and yacht facilities.
One of the coaches said their detailed application to the scheme took more than 100 painstaking hours.
The Brothers Rugby Club in Brisbane (pictured) boasts state-of-the-art facilities but was still given a $500,000 grant
The Brothers Rugby Club in Brisbane (pictured) is one of the country’s most well-established sports clubs
‘Because of our increased playing numbers, we need to radically improve our facilities and infrastructure,’ coach Martin Smith told ABC.
‘We were aware of the criteria and felt we had a very strong case for matching the criteria.
‘We weren’t aware the minister’s discretion might come into play.’
Brothers Rugby Club in Queensland, one of Australia’s most prestigious rugby institutions, also received a whopping $500,000 of taxpayers’ money.
A damning report has found Senator McKenzie, the then-sports minister, approved hundreds of sporting clubs applications for the grants because they were in marginal seats during the last election.
The Mosman Rowers Club (pictured) practice in Sydney’s Harbour and received a $500,000 tax-payer-funded grant
The Coledale Waves Soccer Club (pictured) missed out on getting any government money, despite spending hours on an application and being in dire need of better facilities
She even approved the windfall for a clay shooting club at Wangaratta, of which she is a member.
Prime Minister Scott Morrrison has since launched an investigation to establish whether Ms McKenzie, who is under growing pressure to resign, breached ministerial standards.
The elite Mosman Rowing Club is in Tony Abbot’s former seat of Warringhah, while Vaucluse is home to MP Dave Sharma, who risked losing his seat.
Similarly, the Hawthorn Hockey Centre in the affluent Melbourne suburb also received an eye-watering $500,000 grant for a new pavillion.
Similarly, its MP Josh Frydenberg was also able to retain his seat at the last election.
The same can be said for Queensland MP George Christensen, who retained his seat after his local Mackay Football Club won $491,260 for an upgrade.
A $200,000 grant was also gifted to a Como rowing club near Scott Morrison’s home in Sutherland Shire.
St George Rowing Club even holds lavish weddings on its roof.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said Senator McKenzie’s behaviour was a disgrace and she should resign.
‘This is just red hot. This is just a rort,’ he said.
‘It fails the pub test – it fails every test.
‘This goes to the fundamental integrity and faith in politics.’
There’ll be plenty of cash to look after this horse (pictured) after the Alexander Park Dressage Club was given $60,000
Bayview Golf Club (pictured) boasts lush greens and received a $140,000 government grant
Auditor-General Grant Hehir was scathing of the way she distributed 684 grants in December 2018, as well as in February and April 2019 during her final months as sports minister before the last election.
The funds went either into Coalition electorates or marginal seats the government was hoping to win.
‘The award of grant funding was not informed by an appropriate assessment process and sound advice,’ the Australian National Audit Office report said.
‘The successful applications were not those that had been assessed as the most meritorious in terms of the published program guidelines.’
The Hawthorn Hockey Centre (pictured) in Melbourne’s east got a $500,000 grant to build a new pavillion