Documents from the Prime Minister’s office have raised questions about the Member for Indi, Helen Haines, regarding her integrity in relation to several significant funding requests. The documents detail multiple funding proposals linked to projects within her electorate, prompting scrutiny of any potential conflicts of interest.
According to the records, Haines has advocated for an $8 million allocation toward the second stage of the Benalla Art Gallery redevelopment. The documents query whether Haines has any direct ties to the gallery, such as visiting the site, holding membership, making donations, or maintaining personal or professional connections with the gallery’s employees or board members. It also seeks clarity on whether any such relationships were disclosed prior to the funding request.
Further, a request for $28.5 million in funding for the Mount Buller Ski Resort is noted. The files disclose that in July 2022, Haines received complementary lift passes for herself and her spouse at the resort. The relevance of this gift in relation to the funding request has been called into question.
Additional funding sought by Haines includes $10 million for the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre and another $10 million for the Prosecco Road Tourism Project. The documents investigate whether Haines has any affiliation with the users of the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre, including playing, training, attending matches, or benefiting from club-related donations. Similarly, inquiries were made about her involvement with enterprises or organisations along Prosecco Road, examining whether she had accepted gifts beyond those declared or held business interests, received political donations, or maintained other professional relationships.
Among these disclosures, Haines has acknowledged receiving three bottles of wine from businesses connected to the Prosecco Road area.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether any of the questioned interests violate parliamentary disclosure rules or indicate impropriety. The scrutiny reflects ongoing concerns over the transparency and integrity of politicians’ engagement with local funding requests, particularly when personal benefits or connections may intersect with public resource allocations. Haines has yet to publicly respond to the allegations or provide further details about the nature of her associations with the projects under review.