At least 130 inquires about investment from the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund were made before a formal application channel was established, with businesses accessing multiple pathways in search of government backing, including approaching the minister.
At Senate Estimates on Thursday night, officials from the new National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) Corporation and the Industry department faced criticism from the Coalition about an allegedly unfair application process.
“To the point of the [application] process, it sounds like Minister [Ed] Husic’s office was perhaps open for business, not the NRF,” Senator Hollie Hughes said at the hearing.
Want to know how this story ends?
Become a subscriber for complete access to all stories on InnovationAus.com and our daily newsletter.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.