The Communications Minister has been grilled over a taxpayer-funded grant awarded to a queer cabaret artist who has created a “bum puppet” featuring a drawing of the PM on her backside.

A Chinese Australian poet who writes on toilet rolls about bodily fluids has also been given the Australia Council for the Arts fellowships worth $80,000.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher told Ben Fordham he’s sought an explanation.

“The Australia Council needs to remember its spending taxpayer’s money and it needs to do that in a way that maintains community confidence.”

“But this happens every year,” Ben shot back.

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