Dumped Nationals deputy Bridget McKenzie has denied she was made a scapegoat for the sport rorts scandal that has engulfed the Morrison government for nearly three weeks.
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Senator McKenzie on Sunday resigned from cabinet and from her party responsibilities, after an investigation by Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Phil Gaetjens she breached ministerial standards by failing to declare she was a member of the Wangaratta Clay Target Club before awarding it a $36,000 community sporting grant.
Her resignation came amid intense speculation about the role of the Prime Minister's office in determining where grants went.
But Senator McKenzie said she was ultimately responsible for the program.
"I'm the minister responsible. That's what the Westminster system is all about. I had ministerial discretion. It was used appropriately," she said.
"I take responsibility for all my decisions. I signed the resignation letter yesterday. I signed off on 684 sporting programs I know are making a difference in communities right now. The breach of ministerial standards was clear. I should have declared those memberships in a more timely fashion."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also revealed Senator McKenzie had a second undeclared conflict of interest in her membership of Field and Game Australia.
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The Northern Territory division of the shooting body received $500,000 under the grants scheme, while the Warrnambool branch received $50,000.
While the minister was not a member of either of those branches, she was a member of the umbrella organisation, and should have recused herself, Mr Morrison said.
Senator McKenzie said she did not accept that these memberships were a conflict of interest.
"I received no personal benefit, they did not inform my decision making at all," she said.
Mr Gaetjens apparently cleared Senator McKenzie of the most serious charge of pork barrelling with the $100 million sports grants program. Mr Morrison said the report was cabinet in confidence and would not be released.
