His report was never published, but a summary found there were âsignificant shortcomingsâ in the way McKenzie decided on the grant. But Gaetjens also found that the way the ministerâs office approved funds for projects was not unduly influenced by reference to âmarginalâ or âtargetedâ electorates.
McKenzie quit cabinet after the Gaetjens report was handed to the prime minister over a failure to disclose membership of a gun club that received money through the grant program.
Multiple parties, including the Guardian, have since applied for the Gaetjens report through freedom of information laws. The government has refused to release the report and the case is now before the information watchdog, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.