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NSW premier defends track record on grants

Hannah Ryan and Gina RushtonAAP
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says it's better to criticised for doing something than doing nothing.
Camera IconNSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says it's better to criticised for doing something than doing nothing. Credit: AAP

The NSW premier has defended his government's track record on grants and hit back against accusations of pork barrelling, a day after announcing a review into the way government grants are administered.

Dominic Perrottet told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday he was "proud" of the government's "track record on investments".

"It's much better to be criticised for investing and doing something than for not doing anything at all," he said.

Mr Perrottet announced the review on Wednesday, which is will aim to ensure that public money is spent fairly, effectively and transparently. It will be undertaken by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat.

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The review came in the wake of a series of accusations of pork barrelling, including most recently a $20 million pilot program to boost renewable energy in schools.

Asked on Thursday if it was just a coincidence that 23 of the 25 schools funded under the pilot were in coalition seats, Mr Perrottet responded: "Well, yeah".

"I accept that you can look on face value that a lot of those schools have occurred in coalition seats, but that doesn't mean that there was not need," he said.

"The Department of Education says, 'here's where the need is'. Why does it matter the way an electorate votes? It doesn't matter at all."

The premier also said he would not be asking his minister if they've complied with a guide to good grants process - which will be updated as part of the review.

"My expectation is that they are complying," he said.

"I'm not going to sit in cabinet and say 'who's complying today'."

Greens MP David Shoebridge pressed Mr Perrottet on whether he supports laws that would make pork barrelling illegal.

The premier responded that he'd have to take advice on the question.

"It shouldn't occur, I've said that very clearly, and it certainly won't be occurring during the time that I am premier," he added.

NSW Labor has urged the government to ensure the review leads to meaningful changes to grants processes, after Mr Perrottet told reporters "perhaps nothing will change" following the review.

NSW Labor on Wednesday night expressed concern the review's outcome was "predetermined" and called on the government to incorporate six principles into the process.

These include an onus on ministers to explain in writing when and why they depart from the advice of their agencies in the awarding of grants. Clear and transparent guidelines, time frames and eligibility criteria should also be required in the process.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said projects should be funded based on need and merit rather than political motivation.

"The growing culture of pork-barrelling by this Liberal National government must be broken," Mr Minns said.

The review is due to be finished by April 2022.

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