To what lengths will a politician go to "pork barrel" before an election to help his, or in this case her, side of politics to score a victory. The Federal Auditor-General's report into the $100 million worth of sports grants awarded by the Federal Governments then Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie just prior to the last election, identified that the grants by the minister were specifically targeted at marginal Coalition seats, and seats the Coalition hoped to win.

According to former NSW Auditor-General Tony Harris, a Federal Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) would be the ideal body to get to the bottom of the McKenzie sports grants scandal. Mr Harris, said the Government had resisted creating a strong independent watchdog. In his opinion if the sports grants case had came across his desk during his seven year tenure as NSW's chief accountability officer he would have referred it for investigation to the NSW ICAC.

Why is the Government so opposed to a Federal ICAC?

why not have Nancy Pelosi bring her freak show to Australia and run ICAC in conjunction with the abc.

The main fuss seems to be whether or not McKenzie had constitutional power to make sports grants, not whether she was 'pork barreling', and certainly not because she is a member of the Coalition, which is the real reason the jackals are out to get her.

If an ICAC is so important to the Left, why didn't Rudd/Gillard/Rudd create one?

Corrupt politicians can be dealt with by the voters; they are also subject to the same laws as the rest of us. And, the duties of the NSW ICAC cover "public officials" - unelected people beyond the control of voters.

The three most corrupt political leaders in my lifetimes, leaders who were defiantly on the take, but never felt the wrath of the voters, not necessarily in order were; JOH BJELKE-PETTERSEN, ROBIN ASKIN and HENRY BOLTE. All conservative, all knighted by the Queen of England all crooks of the highest order, no ICAC to investigate those blokes.

ttbn you ask about RUDD and GILLARD on the Labor side of politics, who knows, when you're in government you are on a hiding to nothing with an independent ICAC with extensive snooping powers.

"McKenzie had constitutional power", not the only question, why the bias in favour of marginal and winnable electorates, as stated by the Auditor-General. Clearly a case of taxpayers funds being used for political purposes, that constitutes $100 million worth of corruption.

Hi Paul1405,

I don't support winning by cheating.
I think she should be held accountable.

Its people like runner, who are the easiest fooled by corrupt politicians. They swallow the "nothing to see here line" and don't think twice about it. The situation at the moment with Canberra is predicable, the opposition makes an allegation, the government defends the accused, and hope it all blows over. The Senate can launch an inquiry which is tainted as being party political.

runner, you would be the ideal type for 'Old Joe', swallowing his BS and bluster hook, line and sinker. I'm sure Hasbeen and a few others on the forum were totally fooled by corrupt conservative politicians.

BTW, I'm not defending Labor, in government they can be just as corrupt as the other side.