A grants program to help tourism operators has been rorted by the NSW government, according to the opposition, which says up to 70 per cent of cash was funnelled coalition seats.
The Refresh and Renew Grants program was for tourism businesses to improve facilities and gave out grants up to $10,000 over 2020 and 2021.
Labor says 70 of the 103 grants went to businesses in coalition electorates.
The grants were for regional operators, and more than half of those eligible were in electorates held by Labor and crossbenchers.
This comes despite guidelines stating grants have to be awarded based on an "objective assessment basis".
One of the grants awarded went to a cafe owned by the director of Destination North Coast, a government-appointed position.
The grant was given to the director after being "favourably assessed" by Destination North Coast, and beat 141 other applicants out for the $10,000.
Labor says it has seen documents showing staff were "aware of the conflict" before awarding the grant.
Grants can be awarded based on subjective evidence including whether businesses have received positive reviews on crowd-sourced websites including TripAdvisor or Google Reviews.
Labor has proposed a bill which would politicians to explain, in writing, why they have deviated from bureaucratic advice when deciding to award a grant
"Yet again the NSW government has been caught treating public funds like its own piggy bank," NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said.
"Thousands of eligible small businesses outside of coalition electorates have missed out on a fair share of grant funding."
"(Premier) Dominic Perrottet needs to put the community ahead of his political party and mates. He should back Labor's bill and end the grant rorts in NSW."
The government has also been criticised after analysis found 75 per cent of ClubGRANTS funds were funnelled to coalition seats, and 95 per cent $252m Stronger Communities Funds grants to coalition-held or marginal electorates.
