An ongoing inquiry into the misuse of public funds by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Victoria has heard how an African community leader in Melbourne pocketed around $75,000 in taxpayer funds through the manipulation of a grants program.
The Somali Australian Council of Victoria (SACOV) allegedly received the funds after the mayor of Banyule City Council, Rick Garotti, lobbied the state gaming minister, Marlene Kairouz—a fellow ALP factional ally—for a $100,000 grant under the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
