Liberal frontbencher Michaelia Cash has denied a health and hospital grant program from the former Morrison government was pork-barrelling despite a scathing auditor-general report into the scheme.
The report into the administration of the Community Health and Hospitals Program found it was “ineffective and fell short of ethical requirements” and breached legal requirements.
The Australian Government Solicitor found no legislation could be relied on to authorise the spending.
The $1.25 billion initiative was announced in December 2018, five months before the 2019 federal election, with a further $747 million committed for associated projects.
Funds were provided in grants to primary health networks and state and territory governments in a bid to ease pressure on community services and hospitals….