NSW Labor has asked the Information and Privacy Commission to investigate the serious and systematic destruction of records that occurred in the Office of the Premier of NSW regarding the controversial Stronger Communities Fund -Tied Grants program.
Over 95 per cent of the $252 million fund was used for political purposes and awarded to projects in Coalition-held seats before the 2019 NSW State election.
A senior policy adviser to the NSW Premier recently gave evidence that she had shredded the only written records showing the Premier’s approval of $141.8 million of grants funding.
The adviser went on to delete all electronic copies describing the illegal destruction of documents as her ‘normal record management practice.’
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said: “This is a monumental cover-up. Gladys Berejiklian used public money for blatantly political purposes and then her staff destroyed evidence to cover-up the Premier’s involvement in this dodgy scheme.
“Under this Premier’s leadership, NSW is heading back to the bad old days. The public sees rort after rort and cover-up after cover-up but Gladys Berejiklian and her Ministers simply refuse to be held to account.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government Greg Warren said: “I have requested that the Information Commissioner investigate this incident and the serious and systemic breaches of record keeping obligations plaguing the Office of the Premier.
“These were public funds to be spent on local communities – not funds to be used for electioneering purposes by the NSW Liberals and Nationals.
“This is a further erosion of public trust and it leads right to the Premier’s door.”
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