Dr Bryce Edwards: Auditor General damns the Govt’s charity funding processes

Should Government Ministers be able to dole out money to anyone they want? Or should proper rules be followed when disbursing taxpayer funds?

According to a landmark condemnation from the Auditor General this week, the politicians need to follow the rules. The watchdog published a damning letter on Wednesday that he had sent to the Ministry of Health, chiding them for letting the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, hand out $24m to a charity closely connected with various political parties – Mike King’s Gumboot Fridays.