A Victorian roller derby club rejected in the sports rorts scheme has revealed the heartbreaking toll of learning it had the highest merit score in the country.
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Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby Club - in a safe Nationals seat - was denied funding despite scoring 98 out of 100 on its application for a $45,000 to upgrade toilets.
The auditor-general found the now-infamous $100 million Community Sport Infrastructure program heavily favoured seats the coalition were targeting at the election.
In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry, the roller derby club's president Bodye Darvill said the decision had an immediate negative impact on its ability to operate.
"We are left with no doubt that the action of denying our club the funds we were assessed as deserving was indeed discriminatory and politically motivated," she wrote to the Senate committee.
Ms Darvill said all applications that reached Sport Australia's cut-off mark of 74 out of 100 should be retrospectively funded.
The club also recommended the government ensure a transparent application process for all future grant programs.
Ms Darvill said the club was now wary of wasting time and energy preparing further grant application which could be discarded based on political manoeuvring.
"We believe there is a significant trust deficit that needs to be remedied," she said.
She said it was devastating to learn through media the club's project had the highest score of all 2000 applications across Australia.
"This news was heartbreaking," Ms Darvill said.
The Morrison government on Wednesday again refused to release Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Philip Gaetjens' report into the scheme, claiming cabinet confidentiality.
Senators lined up to attack the decision, accusing the government of corruption and trying to avoid scrutiny.
Greens senator Janet Rice said everybody should have access to community sports.
"But the sad truth is not everybody does because of the corrupt decisions made by the minister's office, and potentially influenced by the prime minister's office," she said.
Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann said the Gaetjens report, which led to former sports minister Bridget McKenzie's resignation, would not be released.
"Disclosure of the document...is not in the public interest as it would reveal cabinet deliberations," he said.
Australian Associated Press
