It’s great to hear the Anzacs are sticking together and Australia has joined New Zealand in withholding funds from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Sydney Morning Herald says the Morrison government will slash funding to the secretariat in retaliation to a cronyism scandal that has sparked an international feud over its secretary-general.
In a decision that undermines Baroness Patricia Scotland’s plan to remain in the top post, Australia has cut $800,000 from a fund earmarked for the London-based Commonwealth body and will refuse to hand over the remaining $500,000 unless flaws in how it operates and hands out lucrative contracts are fixed.
As Point of Order reported on February 1, New Zealand is withholding $3 million of funding for the secretariat.
A brief statement has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Continue reading “Cronyism scandal: Aussies join NZ in holding money back from the Commonwealth Secretariat”