Department did not verify Hillsong referencesFebruary 15, 2006A FEDERAL department failed to check whether
an Aboriginal group, named by the Hillsong church in a grant
application, supported the project. Hillsong Emerge first applied for a grant of almost $500,000 with
the support of the Riverstone Aboriginal Community Association, in
Sydney's northwestern suburbs.
It withdrew the application and submitted a second, which led to
its being granted $414,479 in August last year - a grant announced
by John Howard.
But the second grant application used letters of support and
ideas from RACA, allegedly without the permission of the indigenous
body.
Attorney-General's Department assistant secretary Dianne Heriot
told a Senate estimates hearing yesterday that the department looked
for evidence of local partnerships with indigenous groups.
But asked by Labor senator Trish Crossin whether the reference
letters were verified in some way, Dr Heriot said: "We accept the
letters, Senator."
Dr Heriot said other checks were undertaken on the eligibility of
the organisation, the nature of the project, local need and previous
applications for funding.
The hearing was told the department became aware of problems with
the grant application through gossip, and asked for a meeting with
Hillsong and its partners in the project.
A meeting in October revealed that RACA was disenchanted with the
project, and the next month NSW state Labor MP Ian West claimed in
parliament that Hillsong Emerge misused the Riverstone Aboriginal
community to get taxpayers' money for its own purposes.
When Hillsong Emerge did not reply to two letters from the
department in December and January querying whether the project
could be delivered, a decision was made to withdraw the grant on
February 1.
RACA spokeswoman Vilma Ryan said the events in federal parliament
showed Hillsong Emerge "can't be trusted to work with indigenous
communities". "The federal Government needs to explain why it never
checked up on statements made in the Hillsong Emerge application.
"We call on Hillsong Emerge to come clean on this whole matter.
Come on, Hillsong Emerge. What's the story? Are you big enough to
apologise?"
A spokeswoman for Hillsong did not return calls.
AAP, Ean Higgins |