No, really it’s true. Social Services Minister Christian Porter (pictured) has issued an urgent enquiry into how nearly $6,000 of grants were approved for the Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group on the NSW Central Coast since 2013.
The money was first given to the group to help with the cost of transporting volunteers with a disability.
Mr Porter, who is a devoted sci-fi fan, told the ABC that it was a “beam me up Scotty” moment when he discovered the grants.
“I’m sure they’re very nice people and there are lots of volunteers who are getting something out of it, but looking at it from my perspective, representing taxpayers, it didn’t seem to pass a common sense test,” Mr Porter said.
Is the truth out there?
The Group, which has 822 members listed on Facebook, received $2,645 this year as part of the volunteer grant program, on top of $2,994 in 2013.
A spokesperson has told the Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate that the funding was legitimate.
“We have elderly people we pick up and take to meetings, where we need projectors and microphones so everyone can see and hear what is going on,” she said.
Something tells us they’ll have to ‘set phasers to stun’ if they want more.
