PM admits golf grant missed sewage fix

Anthony Albanese admitted on Tuesday that a $6 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club did not pay for sewage works. The prime minister previously told parliament the funding would stop raw sewage from entering the Cooks River. This correction follows questions from opposition members about the scope of the project in his Sydney electorate.

Infrastructure department officials confirmed the error during a Senate estimates hearing. Jacinta McDonald, the department's assistant secretary, stated that sewerage is not a component of the grant. This contradicts Albanese's comments in September. He described the money as funding for an environmental project to stop sewage flow during flooding.

Anthony Chisholm, the assistant education minister, defended the prime minister's initial explanation. He said the scope of the work changed after the local council's original proposal. Chisholm noted that the New South Wales government stepped in to support the sewerage work. This aligns with Albanese's claim that the state handles water and sewerage infrastructure.

The grant is part of a larger $560 million scheme that transparency advocates say favored Labor-held seats. Albanese holds honorary social membership at the club but denied influencing the decision. He noted that another minister signed off on the approval. The opposition shadow energy minister, Dan Tehan, accused the prime minister of misleading parliament and urged him to correct the record.

Albanese conceded that his earlier statement was not correct. He explained that the federal funding now covers clubhouse improvements, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet, and landscaping. The council is currently finalizing the project design. Albanese highlighted that the club has a long history, with its last major remodel occurring in 1947.

The New South Wales government committed to addressing the club's sewerage infrastructure in September 2025. Albanese said this state involvement was appropriate given the division of responsibilities. The federal funding remains allocated to the other approved upgrades at the Marrickville facility.