WANGARATTA-based Independent federal MP for Indi, Helen Haines, has renewed her call for greater integrity and oversight measures for the Future Made in Australia program, ahead of the debate of the government’s Bill resuming in federal Parliament this week.
Dr Haines said she was hopeful of broad support for her amendments to increase transparency on program decisions.
The $22.7 billion program is the largest budget measure in this term of Parliament outside the defence strategy program, with Dr Haines suggesting there continues to be a “giant question mark” over integrity.
She cited similar concerns raised by the Productivity Commission, Climate Council, Grattan Institute and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“This is one of the largest budget measures in this term of Parliament, and I want to make sure there is a clear framework in place for transparency of expenditure and decision making,” Dr Haines said.
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She confirmed she will move amendments to the Future Made in Australia Bill to provide the Parliament and the public a line of sight over where funding is going under the program.
Dr Haines met with the Treasurer last month to discuss them in detail and is hopeful the government could agree to the changes.
The amendments would require the Minister to give unredacted sector assessments to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; sector assessments to be tabled in Parliament within seven sitting days; and require annual reports under the Act to include an annual breakdown of Future Made in Australia supports, including key details such as recipients, purpose, support provided and amount.
Dr Haines said concerns had been raised from a number of quarters, backed up during public hearings as part of the inquiry, that the fund risked pork-barrelling without the proper oversight.
“Without an oversight and transparency framework, there is a risk that money will be awarded to industries or companies without merit, because of lobbying efforts, because it will win votes in certain electorates, or for other reasons that generally lack integrity in government decision-making,” she said.
“The public deserves assurance that billions of dollars of their money is being spent responsibly and with integrity, to prevent any pork barrelling occurring under this government, or indeed future governments.”
“If my End Pork Barrelling Bill was passed in 2023, concerns about the integrity of these Future Made in Australia grants would be alleviated.”
