An audit into the Assistance Grants Programme administered by the Premier’s Office found that a lack of adequate controls to ensure appropriate due diligence in making decisions on awards fostered an environment in which applicants could and have abused the programme.
The audit detailed various instances in which members of the public are believed to have abused the deficiencies of the Assistance Grant Programme for personal gain.
It found that on multiple occasions members of the same family applied and were granted assistance for the same purpose.
It said that in one of these instances, three family members submitted similarly worded letters requiring $30,000 assistance each in the same week to settle outstanding legal fees. The audit found that all three applications were approved for the full amounts and disbursed without any evidence that the debt existed.
In another instance detailed in the audit, a woman is said to have requested $30,000 assistance to inject equity into a building project in order to secure a mortgage. She was awarded half of the amount.
The audit found that the following year, however, the applicant used the same letter to make an identical request and was awarded the full amount. Cumulatively receiving $45,000 from the programme, when her need was only valued at $30,000.
“This we find to be abusive on the applicant’s part and negligent on the Premier’s part, as proper accountability and due diligence was not performed”, the report said.