Investigation Reveals Procedural Concerns in Tasmanian Community Fund Grant for Voice to Parliament Campaign

An investigation into the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF), a government-funded body, has revealed that proper procedures were not followed in awarding a grant of approximately $557,800 to Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR) for their ‘Yes’ campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

In 2023, the TCF allocated funds to support the ‘Yes’ vote through a national media campaign, media consultancy, workshops, and promotional materials. This grant was part of a funding round that distributed nearly $2.6 million to various organizations, including $360,000 to the Multicultural Council of Tasmania, $453,000 to Karinya Young Women’s Service, $200,000 to the Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation, and $306,235 to the School Matters lunch program.

In the national referendum, 60.1% of Australians voted ‘No’ to the proposed constitutional change, while 39.9% voted ‘Yes’. In Tasmania, the ‘No’ vote prevailed, with 58.9% voting against the change and 41.1% in favour.

The review, conducted by Auditor-General Martin Thompson and released on Thursday, found that the TCF’s decision to fund the ‘Yes’ campaign lacked proper documentation and risk assessment. It noted that the TCF did not seek guidance or advice on the appropriateness of a state entity supporting a specific outcome in a Commonwealth referendum and failed to declare and manage any conflicts of interest.

The TCF Board has contested these findings, expressing strong disagreement and concern that the report presents an inaccurate picture of their operations. TCF Director Alex McKenzie criticized the Tasmanian Audit Office (TAO) for examining only one grant in isolation, arguing that this approach did not consider the broader context of the decision-making process.

McKenzie highlighted that at the time of the decision, all three leaders of the main political parties in Tasmania publicly supported the ‘Yes’ vote. He also emphasized that the TCF Board has never funded a political party, noting that AICR is a registered charity, not a political party.

Minister Roger Jaensch stated that the state government would consider amending the Tasmanian Community Fund Act 2005 in response to the review. He noted that the use of public funds for political purposes did not align with community expectations and emphasized the need for diligence, transparency, and accountability in the use of public funds.

Jaensch announced plans to introduce amendments to the Act before the end of the year to enhance the TCF Board’s accountability and governance obligations, aligning them with other statutory boards responsible for managing public funds.

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