The Australian War Memorial and other cultural institutions will retain full control of all their donations, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says.
He rejected a Fairfax report the War Memorial is fending off a federal government grab for its donations, permitted through legislation rushed through parliament in the final days of the Labor government.
"This is not true. There will be no change in how the War Memorial deals with donations and no money from donations will be taken from the War Memorial," he said in a statement.
Senator Cormann said also untrue was the claim that money would be swept from the War Memorial accounts to the Department of Finance each day, in the same manner as that from other departments, to allow for overnight investment.
"All donations and private contributions to the War Memorial and other cultural institutions will remain within their custody and control," he said.
