A constitutional law expert has condemned the federal government’s $6 million grant to a golf club in the prime minister’s electorate as "grey corruption," criticizing the scheme distributing the funds as a "farce." The controversial allocation is part of a $560 million invitation-only grants program, which critics argue was designed to deliver targeted benefits to Labor-held seats ahead of the next election. The government has defended the process as compliant with existing rules, though the inquiry examining the scheme has drawn sharp academic scrutiny. Questions remain over whether the program’s lack of transparency undermines public trust in how taxpayer money is allocated.
Anne Twomey says $6m for Marrickville golf club given under ‘farcical scheme’, which Labor has defended as within rulesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA leading constitutional expert has labelled an Albanese government decision to award a $6m grant to a golf club in the prime minister’s electorate as “grey corruption” and called the scheme under which it was given a “farce”.Anne Twomey, a University of Sydney professor emerita, submitted the scathing assessment to a Senate inquiry into an opaque $560m invitation-only grants scheme used to fund projects Labor promised at the 2025 election, and which largely went to Labor-held seats.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...
