I have concerns surrounding the use of public funds and the accountability surrounding this funding. This matter was raised 12 months ago both with the Minister, other local MPs and via the media by myself and others and there has been exhaustive correspondence and subsequent meetings with Local Lands Service (LLS), Port Macquarie Hastings Council, State Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams and correspondence with the Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.

Additionally, a meeting had been held last year with Minister Hodgkinson and correspondence submitted to the Hon Barnaby Joyce, Federal Minister for Agriculture.

The main issue of concern is the accountability in relation to the current Landcare /small grants system. Minister Joyce advised us on 13.1.15 that the new National Landcare Program requires that LLS allocate a minimum of 20% of their Government funding to small, local on-ground projects.

This is a huge amount of public funds to be spent and I have concerns surrounding accountability of these funds.

To me this is no longer just about the Pappinbarra Valley but about LLS and the Government’s failure to ensure the proper accountability of public funds.

I have advocated that all accounts should be paid by LLS or an independent government body. LLS did undertake an audit of the PLHCG who reported that they did not find any misuse of public funds.

My written requests for a faceto-face meeting have, to date, been ignored. I call upon both Ministers (Hodgkinson and Joyce) to stand up and correct the accountability of the current grant system.

The cost savings to the taxpayer would heavily outweigh the cost of proper accountability of public funds.

Steve Bryson, Pappinbarra