Login
Test case in sports rorts affair lodged in Federal Court
An application has been lodged in the Federal Court seeking to overturn a decision to reject a funding application linked to the scandal-plagued sports rorts affair.
Naomi Neilson
Compensation and social justice firm Maurice Blackburn is seeking a test case against the Australian Sports Commission (ACS) to overturn its decision to reject Beechworth Lawn Tennis Club’s (BLTC) funding application as part of the sports rorts scandal.
“The ASC is required to make decisions to award community sports grants, [remaining] independent from government and party-political considerations. As we all know, ASC abandoned its proper role and took direction from the Prime Minister’s office and the Sports Minister to allocate seats to help re-elect LNP politicians,” Mr Bornstein said.
The firm said the challenge will be an important test case on the legality of the scandal and if the BLTC is successful in overturning the decision, the benefit is likely to flow on through all other clubs that should have received grants based on merit.
Mr Bornstein added that while the corruption of the sports grant process is now known to Parliament and the media, those involved “have not been held to account”.
In addition to advocating for BLTC’s application to have a second look, the application will also challenge the decision to give a funding grant to the Wangaratta Clay Target Club, of which senator Bridget McKenzie – the centre of the scandal – is a member.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
