Funds given to the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) is one of two grants that has led to the downfall of former NSW Premier, Glady Berejiklian.
Later this month, ICAC will investigate whether Ms Berejiklian was in a position of conflict when she awarded a $5.5 million grant from the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund in 2017 to upgrade the shooting club’s headquarters.
The reason this grant has come under scrutiny is because the club is based in the seat of Wagga Wagga, which Ms Berejiklian’s former partner, Daryl Maguire, held at the time. The purpose of the grant was to transform the ACTA headquarters, located in an industrial suburb outside of Wagga Wagga, into a new convention centre that would fit up to 1,000 people.
Federal MP for the Riverina, Michael McCormack, has told the ABC that the funding was justified.
McCormack said: “Why they were granted that money, that is very much a matter for ICAC, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment, but those two projects I will just put on the record were needed for this city and, indeed, Wagga Wagga has done very well under the Liberals and Nationals government.”