Hey @D_LittleproudMP, Minister for Agriculture & MP for Maranoa

Mind if I ask you a few questions about pests & weeds?

I've been having a squiz at the $25,341,828 in pest & weed grants the Dept of Agriculture has been handing out for the last couple of yrs


#auspol #insiders

Now Dave, on the Dept of Agriculture website it says Australia has a 'widespread' problem with pests & weeds, right?

Even has maps to show where the weed & pest problems are.

#auspol #Insiders

A search on Grant Connect for: "Communities Combating Pest and Weed Impacts During Drought - Biosecurity Management of Pest & Weed" revealed 96 records

24 were amendments, leaving 72 grants for pest & weed management under a variety of titles worth $25+ mill

#auspol #insiders

Source:
https://www.grants.gov.au/Search/KeywordSearch?keyword=Communities+Combating+Pest+and+Weed+Impacts+During+Drought+-+Biosecurity+Management+of+Pest+%26+Weed&page=1


#auspol #Insiders

Darndest thing @D_LittleproudMP

Your seat of Maranoa got the most money!

Out of $25+million, Maranoa got $9,374,780 would you believe?

Fancy that!

Barnaby Joyce's seat of New England was a distant second on $2,857,435.

#auspol #Insiders

You must have a bloody big weed & pest problem in the Maranoa to warrant that much taxpayer cash.

Funny thing is, media is awfully quiet about it, I can't find one article about it. Not one.

Imagine my surprise.


#auspol #Insiders

The only other thing I can think of......

You wouldn't happen to be pork-barreling your own seat now would you @D_LittleproudMP?

Hmmm?


#auspol #Insiders

Let's break down the figures a little more

Total $25,341,828 over 72 grants

Represents only 20 out of 151 seats

Liberal $5,807,959
Nationals $16,021,234
ALP $2,260,335.27
Independent $1,002,900
CA $89,400
KAP $160,000

#auspol #Insiders

So, @D_LittleproudMP

Care to explain how your own Agriculture Dept says the pest & weed problem is 'widespread' yet $21.8 million out of $25.3 million has gone to Coalition seats, $9.3 million to your own seat?

Why doesn't funding correlate to your maps?

#auspol #Insiders

One more thing, I note these grants were 'invitation only' & 'Targeted or Restricted Competitive", why was that?

What was the criteria for 'an invitation'? Who issued the 'invitations'?

You must've sent out a lot invitations in the Maranoa!

#auspol #Insiders

While you praise Landcare on ur Dept of Ag website, in reality, you're ripping-off the many hardworking groups around Australia who deserve a share of that taxpayer money + you are failing in your duty to address the actual widespread pest & weed problem

#auspol #Insiders

@MurrayWatt @KKeneally @AlboMP @SenatorWong @terrimbutler @markdreyfusQCMP @Tony_Burke @Bowenchris @Mark_Butler_MP @vanOnselenP @hughriminton @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @vogrady2132 @RonniSalt @jommy_tee @AaronDodd

#PestGate

#auspol #Insiders

Let's have this discussion on #auspol @D_LittleproudMP so everyone can hear about the Maranoa's chronic pest & weed problem* or your excuses for this pork-barreling largesse #PestGate #WeedGate

I'll wait, ta

#Insiders
*Please attach scientific evidence


#auspol #Insiders