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2.53am GMT
Grant Hehir, the auditor general who uncovered the politicisation of the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program, has just told an inquiry into his agency that he’s never met the prime minister, Scott Morrison.
Hehir seems unfazed – he says he “did not believe I’ve had an occasion to request such a meeting” – but Labor’s Julian Hill seems to be working it up into an argument that Morrison didn’t do enough to consider Hehir’s request for more funding.
The budget, to some extent, but no other response. No response to the letter.
[The move] more appropriately positions the ANAO with respect to its role – which is to provide audits to parliament. And it would make us more at arm’s length from the entities we audit, which are overwhelmingly part of the executive. It would improve the perception of independence – if we are viewed as a government entity auditing a government entity, we may not be seen as impartial. We’d like to avoid that.
You’d be surprised how often we hear from agencies, they think we’re an internal auditor rather than external auditor for the parliament. That’s not healthy.
2.46am GMT
Obviously, there was lots and lots to be said at Grace Tame’s national press conference event, but I just wanted to go back share this small exchanged that occurred towards the end.
Journalist:
When the prime minister responded to [allegations of rape against a Liberal staffer], he used the phrase “as a father”. And he had to have a chat with his wife Jenny before he was able to front the media and speak. What do you make of that and what do you make of the rhetoric and the way he handled those allegations?
It shouldn’t take having children to have a conscience.
And, actually, on top of that, having children doesn’t guarantee a conscience.
