Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024 [No. 2]

High-Level Summary
The Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024 aims to increase transparency and accountability in the administration of government grants and investment mandates. It proposes changes to prevent the misuse of public funds for political purposes, often referred to as 'pork barrelling'.

Summary
The Bill amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth) to improve grants administration by addressing issues such as lack of transparency, accountability, and the misuse of public funds for political gains. Key amendments include:
  • Extending the application of the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles to corporate Commonwealth entities (CCEs).
  • Requiring all grant programs to have merit-based selection criteria and publicly available guidelines.
  • Enhancing parliamentary oversight with new reporting obligations and the establishment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Grants Administration and Investment Mandates.
  • Making investment mandates disallowable instruments to improve oversight.
  • Amending the Public Service Act 1999 to give the Public Service Commissioner investigative powers regarding breaches of conduct relating to resource management.
From the explanatory memo:
The Bill will have no financial impact.

Argument For
Normative Bases
  1. Pro-Democracy
  2. Anti-Corruption

The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the allocation of public funds, which is crucial for maintaining public trust in the government. By requiring merit-based selection criteria for grants and increasing parliamentary oversight, the bill ensures that public resources are allocated fairly and effectively, minimizing the risk of corruption and misuse of funds [Judgment].

Additionally, the establishment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee provides a robust mechanism for oversight, ensuring that grant programs align with their intended purpose and contribute to the public good [Judgment].


Argument Against
Normative Bases
  1. Pro-Democracy
  2. Value-Neutral / Epistemic Objection

While the bill seeks to improve transparency and accountability, it may introduce additional bureaucratic hurdles that could slow down the grant allocation process. The increased reporting requirements and oversight might lead to inefficiencies and delays in the disbursement of funds, potentially hindering timely project implementation [Judgment].

Moreover, the new regulations might discourage innovation in grant administration by imposing rigid structures that do not account for unique circumstances of certain projects or regions [Judgment].


Date:

2024-11-04

Status:

Not Proceeding

Sponsor:

HAINES, Helen, MP

Portfolio:

Unspecified

Categories:

Anti-Corruption, Civics, Democratic Institutions

Timeline:
04/11/2024
28/03/2025

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