Anthony Albanese has claimed he did not know he was a member of his local golf club when his government gave it $6m for renovations, accusing the ABC of inappropriate reporting.The money came from an opaque $560m invitation-only grants scheme to fund projects Labor promised at the 2025 election, largely for Labor-held seats, prompting calls to make grant rules more transparent.The prime minister had not declared he was an honorary member of the Marrickville Golf Club, which falls in his inner-west Sydney electorate of Grayndler. Albanese told ABC TV on Wednesday the membership was issued by the club 15 years ago without his knowledge.
“I haven’t been in there for years,” Albanese said. “I used to walk my dog along the path, as lots of people do, because it’s a community club.”The ABC, which first reported the story on Wednesday, said that Albanese’s office had not answered its questions about his membership, or the process by which the Marrickville Golf Club was identified and recommended for the grant. Albanese accused the broadcaster of failing to report the facts.“The ABC were told information they chose not to publish appropriately,” he said. “The ABC should do better.”Albanese said the club’s funding was meant to fix 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,” Albanese saidIn opposition, Labor claimed the Coalition government unfairly favoured its seats. That controversy, which became known as “sports rorts”, led to then sports minister Bridget McKenzie resigning from cabinet after she failed to disclose membership of a gun club that received funding. An inquiry by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet found she had breached ministerial standards.
