In the electorate of Cowper, the National Party member elected in 2001 to replace a retiring member has spent $24m in 3 years on 184 'small' grants to RSL clubs, schools, companies, individuals, etc. This comes from his own website, in the guise of 'serving the community.'. $2.9m of this went to small companies, including several multiple grants to logging companies.

Over a period of 34 months, this represents 5 grants per week, averaging $130,000.

How could the member handle this volume? Surely a Federal member has more to do than handle issues such as computerisation in RSL clubs? Surely these small community matters should be handled by local or state government?

I suggest that this is blatant buying of popularity to entrench a new politician.

Interestingly, the members of the 2 adjoining NP electorates don't boast of such 'community service' so presumably the need doesn't exist in these areas.

I also ask whether there exist slush funds allocated to members for disbursement at their own discretion or does each grant go through public servants administering budgeted grant moneys?