<p>Grant part of $560m invitation-only scheme transparency advocates say largely funded projects in Labor-held seats</p><ul><li><p>Follow our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/oct/27/one-nation-pauline-hanson-independent-jacqui-lambie-labor-anthony-albanese-coalition-ntwnfb">Australian politics live blog</a> for latest updates</p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Anthony Albanese has admitted he got it wrong after telling parliament a $6m grant to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/11/albanese-is-under-fire-over-a-grants-program-that-benefitted-his-local-golf-club-were-any-rules-broken">a golf club in his electorate</a> was to stop “raw sewage” going into the nearby river.</p><p>The grant given to Marrickville golf club in Sydney’s inner-west is under scrutiny as part of a larger $560m invitation-only grants scheme, which transparency advocates say largely funded projects promised at the 2025 election in Labor-held seats.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/27/albanese-admits-6m-marrickville-golf-club-grant-not-to-fix-raw-sewage">Continue reading...</a>