Minister for Health Mark Butler speaks to journalists in the press gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, on Feb. 10, 2025. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Health Minister Mark Butler has defended an alleged invitation to a local council in his electorate for a $5 million federal grant.
The value of the project is worth $6 million.
The Council originally requested $1.2 million for lighting and development of a master plan for the reserve, according to ABC.
However, Butler made no apologies for his office talking to the council and talked up the need for the grant.
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“My office had multiple discussions with the City of Charles Sturt Council about what a redevelopment of Jubilee Reserve would look like, and what federal funding would be needed to deliver the project,” Butler said in a statement provided to reporters.
“The Council outlined to us in a detailed budget proposal how much funding would be needed to develop Jubilee Reserve.”
The reserve, partly in Butler’s Hindmarsh electorate, is intended as a permanent home for the Adelaide Jaguars women’s soccer club.
“The Adelaide Jaguars are the largest female-only soccer club in South Australia, and their membership has more than tripled in the past five years. Yet, they didn’t have a home ground and had to turn away over 100 players … This terrific club deserved its own home,” Butler said.
The Epoch Times has contacted Minister Butler’s office for additional comment.
Coalition Not Impressed
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume was critical of the lack of transparency.
“The idea that you would have invitation-only grants programs but then encourage people to ask for more, you would push a council, push a golf club committee in a particular way when you know that you are responsible for the levers of these grants program, that stinks,” Hume said.
“That stinks to high heaven and it deserves further scrutiny. Anthony Albanese and indeed now Mark Butler have questions to answer on this.”
