From the Guardian · · 2m
Labor gets 92% of grants in controversial scheme
Analysis reveals federal grants program overwhelmingly favors Labor-held seats, triggering a Senate inquiry.
In brief
Analysis reveals federal grants program overwhelmingly favors Labor-held seats, triggering a Senate inquiry. A $568 million federal grants program has distributed 92% of approved funding to Labor electorates, raising serious questions about political favoritism in government spending. Originally reported by the…
Labor seats dominate grants distribution
Federal Labor electorates have received 92% of the $568m community grants program's approved funding in its first five months, far exceeding their population share.
Center report sparked the controversy
The Centre for Public Integrity revealed the scheme favored Labor electorates, including a $6m grant for a golf club in Anthony Albanese's own electorate of Chisholm.
Victoria receives disproportionate share
Victoria has received $99m of the $248m approved so far, with $92m going to state Labor-held seats ahead of November's state election.
Bacchus Marsh aquatic centre gets $25m
The single largest grant was $25m for a new aquatic centre in the federal and state Labor seats of Hawke and Eureka, both facing electoral pressure.
Other states lag far behind
Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland have received less than $25m, $15m and $8m respectively, despite being promised close to $50m each.
Government defends the program
The Albanese government called the grants structure 'sound' and said there were no conflicts of interest because the infrastructure minister made final decisions, not local MPs.
“The structure of the grants program as 'sound' and claimed there were no conflicts of interest.”
Senate inquiry to investigate selection
The Greens proposed a Senate inquiry with Coalition and crossbench support to examine how projects were selected and whether conflicts of interest were properly declared. Labor voted against it.
“The public deserves to know how their money was allocated, who made the decisions and whether everyone got a fair go.”
Opposition accuses government of political prop-up
The Coalition says federal Labor is using taxpayer money to save Victorian state Labor's 'political furniture' ahead of the November election.
“Federal grants shouldn't be used to try to save Victorian Labor's political furniture.”
Independent MP calls for merit-based funding
Helen Haines, the independent MP for Indi, said public money should go where there is genuine community need and demonstrated merit, not where it delivers political advantage.
“Public money should go where there is genuine community need and demonstrated merit - not where it delivers political advantage.”
The main idea
A $568 million federal grants program has distributed 92% of approved funding to Labor electorates, raising serious questions about political favoritism in government spending.
