A constitutional expert calls the Albanese government's golf club grant 'grey corruption', as the ABC finds the club won five earlier closed grants
Professor Anne Twomey told the Herald, The Age and the Guardian that the process behind a $6 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club in Anthony Albanese's electorate was a farce and 'grey corruption'. The ABC reported that the club received closed, non-competitive grants on five past occasions. The grant came from a $560 million community infrastructure program; a Centre for Public Integrity analysis found Labor-held seats got almost three-quarters. Mr Albanese says the site floods and sewage enters the Cooks River and that he makes no apologies. Senate hearings are expected.
It tests the government's own promise to end pork-barrelling.
None directly.
A local member funding a flood-prone club is doing his job.
Closed grants to a club in the prime minister's seat, with an undeclared honorary membership, is what an integrity commission exists to examine.
Watch the Senate hearings and whether the crossbench bill gets a vote.
DailyDrop Australia edition No. 3 · Morning · WED., OCT. 7, 2026