Labor Has Yanked The $18M Funding For That Controversial Charity Nobody Knew Anything About
The Australian Future Leaders Program had no fixed address, website, or staff.
Labor has axed funding for a controversial leadership foundation that Governor General David Hurley personally lobbied the former Prime Minister to support, despite a lack of information on the organisation.
The Australian Future Leaders Program made headlines back in April when it was revealed that the not-for-profit organisation was allocated $18 million worth of federal funding over five years as part of the 2022 Coalition budget.
“The Government will provide $18.0 million over four years from 2021-22 and $4 million per year ongoing to establish the Australian Future Leaders Foundation. The program will develop mid-career leaders and create an alumni network for future leaders in government, business, education institutions and non-profits across Australia,” the budget papers read.
But despite being allocated millions in funding, very little was actually known about what the foundation does, with no fixed address, website or staff able to be found. When the story broke back in April, Labor — not yet in government — was quick to call bullshit on the whole thing, and now they’ve followed through on their word by yanking the funding altogether.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed that funding has been pulled in an interview with ABC radio on Thursday morning, noting that the funding “didn’t pass muster” and had no “value for money”.
“There have been some funds committed which will not be proceeding, and that’s an example of that,” Chalmers told ABC radio. “And there will be other examples, too, which you will see in the budget.”
Chalmers quashed rumours about an inquiry into the governor general’s role in personally lobbying for the funding, noting that he’s “not into the personalities of it, I’m into the economics of it”.
The funding’s axing comes after it was revealed back in April that Scott Morrison had never actually met with the organisation’s founder Chris Harley, nor had anyone in his office.
“The program aims to develop mid-career leaders and an alumni network for future leaders in Australian business, government, education and not-for-profits. The program lead will design it in close consultation with PMC,” a spokesperson for Morrison told the ABC at the time.
The Governor-General has always stood by his decision to support the foundation and is yet to comment following news that its funding has been pulled.