Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated he was unaware of his honorary membership at Marrickville Golf Club, which received a $6 million grant from his government for renovations, and has accused the ABC of inappropriate reporting on the matter. The funding originated from a $560 million invitation-only grants scheme, established to finance projects Labor promised during the 2025 election campaign, with a significant portion allocated to Labor-held seats. This has prompted calls from crossbench MPs for greater transparency in grant allocation rules.
Albanese Responds to ABC Report
The ABC reported on Wednesday that Albanese had not declared his honorary membership at the club, located in his inner-west Sydney electorate of Grayndler. The membership was reportedly issued by the club 15 years ago. Albanese told ABC TV that he had not been aware of the membership and had not visited the club in years. “I haven’t been in there for years,” he said. “I used to walk my dog along the path, as lots of people do, because it’s a community club.”
Albanese criticized the ABC’s reporting, stating that the broadcaster was given information it chose not to publish appropriately. “The ABC should do better,” he said. The ABC had reported that Albanese’s office did not answer questions about the membership or the process by which the club was identified for the grant.
Grant Program and Political Fallout
Albanese defended the grant, saying it was intended to address issues caused by raw sewerage flowing into the adjacent Cooks River. “I make no apologies for my electorate being serviced by me as a good local member,” he said. The controversy echoes the “sports rorts” scandal under the previous Coalition government, which led to the resignation of then-sports minister Bridget McKenzie after she failed to disclose her membership in a gun club that received funding. An inquiry by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet found she had breached ministerial standards.
Albanese’s electorate received two additional grants from the program, for a women’s health centre and a domestic violence shelter. According to analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity (CPI) of the $560 million program, the marginal NSW electorate of Eden-Monaro, held by Labor minister Kristy McBain, received eight grants totaling $26.4 million.
Criticism and Calls for Reform
Crossbench MPs have complained that councils in their electorates were not given the opportunity to seek funding from the program. McBain told ABC Radio that she had listened to local councils’ priorities and put them forward as potential election commitments. When asked about the crossbench complaints, she said, “I mean, obviously that’s how election commitments work.” The CPI found that NSW and Queensland received disproportionately less funding relative to their populations, while Victoria and Tasmania received disproportionately more.
Infrastructure minister Catherine King defended the process, saying she signed off on applications after they were assessed to show they met value for money. “That is what happens after every single election,” she said. The justifications for the grants have not been made public. Thirteen crossbenchers have called for government reform of grants rules to ensure transparency in how and why public money is allocated. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said the existing rules permitting funding for “pet projects” were undermining Australia’s democracy. “I don’t care how the government spins it,” Lambie said. “Using taxpayer money to buy votes or benefit party followers should be seen as corruption because that’s what it is.”
