Politics · Australia · 2 hrs ago
Watchdog flags questions over Labor’s election grant program
Australia’s Senate is investigating a $560.9 million grant program that gave nearly three-quarters of its grants to Labor-held or competitive seats, according to analysis cited at the inquiry.
The program funded community infrastructure, with grants promised during the 2025 election campaign.
Acting corruption watchdog head Kylie Kilgour said parts of the program had caught her interest, but she said it was too early to say whether corruption had occurred.
The watchdog has not heard evidence showing the program falls under its jurisdiction, and Kilgour said she would defer to a possible audit by the Australian National Audit Office.
A $6.05 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club has drawn scrutiny because it is in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate and he held an undisclosed honorary membership.
Albanese said the money was for sewerage work, but a department brief described clubhouse and precinct upgrades and did not mention sewerage; the club had also been invited to a planned media event with him.
The Senate inquiry is continuing, with questions about grant decisions, the golf club funding and conflict-of-interest rules still awaiting answers.
Anthony Albanese was invited to a proposed media event at Marrickville Golf Club to celebrate a $6 million upgrade days before the ABC reported his honorary membership.
Documents show his office supported his attendance, but the proposed September 12 event did not go ahead.
An ABC-reported departmental brief described clubhouse and precinct improvements, but made no reference to sewerage fixes.
Albanese had said the grant was to fix a septic issue, while the club’s funding is being scrutinised by a Senate inquiry into election grants.
- Who
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was invited to the event. His office had been planning it with the club.
- What
- A media event was proposed to celebrate a $6 million upgrade to Marrickville Golf Club.
- When
- The invitation was sent on September 4, five days before the ABC reported Albanese’s honorary membership. The event was proposed for September 12.
- Where
- Marrickville Golf Club, in Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler.
- Why
- The event was intended to celebrate the club’s upgrade, funded by a grant promised during the 2025 federal election campaign.
Anthony Albanese
Bridget McKenzie
Purpose of the grant
Anthony Albanese
Albanese said the grant was for fixing a septic issue at the club.
Bridget McKenzie
McKenzie said the department’s brief debunked that explanation and accused Albanese of misleading Parliament.
Albanese promised Marrickville Golf Club a grant for an upgrade.
Catherine King’s office invited Albanese to attend a media event at the club.
Albanese told the House of Representatives the grant was to fix a septic issue at the club.
The ABC reported Albanese’s honorary membership at the club.
The proposed media opportunity was scheduled but did not go ahead.
- Grant
- $6.05 million promised to Marrickville Golf Club
- Invitation date
- September 4
- Proposed event date
- September 12
- Election campaign
- 2025
- Albanese’s electorate
- Grayndler
3 sources
What people are saying
This is a good one and important locally — would support!
Because it is on the flood plain, when it floods in Marrickville raw sewage flows into the Cooks River — that is what the funding is for
It is clear the prime minister has written a blank cheque to his Marrickville Golf Club and misled the parliament about it