Urgent Meeting Sought Over $550 Million War Memorial Upgrade

An urgent briefing has been requested by the government after a scathing report into the Australian War Memorial’s $550 million (US$357 million) upgrade revealed conflicts of interest, contract irregularities, and cost blow-outs. An auditor-general’s report into the Canberra-based institution found conflicts of interest were not adequately documented or declared and that contracts had been split so they would not need ministerial approval. It also revealed then-prime minister Scott Morrison—who makes a final bow from politics on April 13 when voters choose a new member for his seat—had approved the project before its business case was finalised. There was “no evidence” it had been considered by government before the controversial upgrade was announced in 2018, the report said....