Thread by @SenKimCarr

As @Aus_Scienceweek draws to a close it’s a good moment to refresh on what we learned this week about the unorthodox $443 million grant to @GBRFoundation by @TurnbullMalcolm #reefgate #auspol

On Monday morning the @FinancialReview reported that the @GBRFoundation was writing to Federal MPS belatedly promising full transparency and accountability for the grant. Accountability that should be a given, not a gift of course! #reefgate #auspol
afr.com/news/reef-foun…

And @australian reported that the @GBRFoundation advertised for a financial controller to help “scale up” the charity, in the wake of the grant #reefgate #auspol
theaustralian.com.au/national-affai…

Minister for Jobs and Innovation @SenatorCash tabled 500 pages of documents from @CSIROnews on its response to the grant, following a order passed by @AuSenate, moved by myself on 18 June 2018. #reefgate #auspol
You can see the documents here - parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/searc…

And @GBRFoundation CEO, Anna Marsden, told the media that she was never contacted about the federal government doing due diligence before they were offered the grant #reefgate #auspol
sbs.com.au/news/reef-foun…

Under increasing pressure, the Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy, Finn Pratt, wrote to the Auditor-General @ANAO_Australia asking for the $444 million grant to be subject to an audit #reefgate #auspol

https://twitter.com/TomMcIlroy/status/1028856412833599489

On Sunday the Minister @JoshFrydenberg argued that due diligence had been conducted on the Foundation, yet @GuardianAus reported that it was for another grant #reefgate #auspol
theguardian.com/australia-news…

But in @AuSenate question time both Minister’s Cormann and Cash were unable to provide any further details to @KKeneally or I - aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_… aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_… #reefgate #auspol

On Tuesday morning @dailytelegraph reported that days after receiving the grant, @GBRFoundation treated members of its Chairman’s panel to a retreat and snorkelling at @qualia on Hamilton Island where private villa’s cost $2000 a night #reefgate #auspol dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/great…

Asked about this luxury retreat in @AuSenate question time, Senator Cormann’s response was to tell Senator @MurrayWatt, and I quote “your pathetic” #reefgate #auspol

Later in the day @MikeySlezak reported that documents – tabled in @AuSenate on Monday - showed that @CSIROnews CEO @DrLarryMarshall was concerned that the @GBRFoundation was ind anger of spending “millions in overheads” #reefgate #auspol abc.net.au/news/2018-08-1…

And @lisacox at @GuardianAus reported that @CSIROnews staff would be seconded to help the foundation deal with the grant #reefgate #auspol theguardian.com/environment/20…

On Wednesday @smh wrote a scathing editorial on #reefgate #auspol smh.com.au/politics/feder…

Labor MP @c_otoole asked the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission @ACNC_gov_au to investigate the @GBRFoundation Chairman’s Panel Weekend” at a $2000-a-night Hamilton Island resort #reefgate #auspol theaustralian.com.au/national-affai…

The Chairman and two other board members of @GBRFoundation agreed to front up to the Senate inquiry on 18 September @GuardianAus #reefgate #auspol
theguardian.com/environment/20…

And @AuSenate supported a motion calling for @aims_gov_au and @IndustryGovAu to provide documents on their involvement with the grant #reefgate #auspol

On Thursday @GBRFoundation promised to only spend $44.3 million on administration!!! #reefgate #auspol @GuardianAus theguardian.com/environment/20…

And @australian reported that the @CSIROnews raised the alarm over the creation of “layers and layers” of bureaucracy, amid the duplication of key scientific and administrative roles. #reefgate #auspol
theaustralian.com.au/national-affai…

Labor Shadow Treasurer @Bowenchris demonstrated that by transferring the $444 million to @GBRFoundation on Juen 29 the government cost taxpayers $11 million in public interest debt #reefgate #auspol theguardian.com/environment/20…

In the middle of the day @Tony_Burke and I announced that Labor would not engage in the privatisation of public research #reefgate #auspol

https://twitter.com/SenKimCarr/status/1029984519212883968

And Scott Morrison decided that the latest excuse was to reach for that old conservative chest nut to argue that merchant bankers and miners know more about saving the great barrier reef than @aims_gov_au & @CSIROnews scientists #reefgate #auspol

https://twitter.com/SenKimCarr/status/1030254361082036224

As you can see there has been more revelations in the past week about this unorthodox grant. Labor will continue to ask questions and get to the bottom of this emerging scandal #reefgate #auspol
tonyburke.com.au/get-active/ret…