House debates Questions without Notice

Fiscal Policy

Wednesday, 9 September 2026 House of Representatives

Tony Pasin

Tony Pasin Barker, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting for Fisheries and Forestry

2:09 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Seventy-three per cent of funding from Labor's $560 million secret, invite-only grant scheme went to projects in Labor electorates, including a $6 million grant to the Marrickville Golf Club, of which the Prime Minister has not declared his own honorary membership. When the Prime Minister said 'shameless pork-barrelling must stop, and it will, under a Labor government,' was that just another broken promise?

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Before I call the Prime Minister, the member for Barton will leave the chamber under 94(a). She has been continuously interjecting on every question. It's completely unacceptable.

The member for Barton then left the chamber .

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

When the House comes to order and interjections—

Order, the member for Barker! I'm bringing the House to order. You've asked your question. The Prime Minister will now be heard.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

2:10 pm

I really do thank the member for Barker for that question. He asked about grants through a program of federal election commitments that were made, including those in my electorate. There were three grants in my electorate. One was for Leichhardt Women's Community Health Centre that has been there since the 1970s—one of the first feminised women's health centres that existed throughout Australia. It is in a suburban area in Leichhardt on a corner, and it has been there for more than 50 years providing services for women who need those health services. It is for fixing up Leichhardt Women's Community Health Centre.

The second was to St Vincent de Paul for fixing up the refuge where women and children escaping domestic violence—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Order! There is far too much noise. The member for Gippsland is on a warning—no more interjections from you. The member for Barker has asked his question and he's getting an answer—I'm just going to ask you to cease interjecting, otherwise you'll be on a warning. This is just far too noisy. The Prime Minister is giving his answer. The member for Barker was heard in silence. The same courtesy will be shown to the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

It was for women and children escaping domestic violence so they have somewhere to go that is fit for purpose, through St Vincent de Paul. The third project is for the Inner West Council, which owns the public golf course at Marrickville. It has existed for a long time, almost a 100 years, and they have a septic tank Because it is on the floodplain, when it floods in Marrickville raw sewage flows into the Cooks River—that is what the funding is for. This is a public golf course known affectionately as 'Royal Marrickville'—tongue in cheek, because it's past 62 and is used by the community. I'm very proud of community organisations such as that.

I'm asked about honorary membership. I've been advised that in 2012 I got honorary membership. Someone made a decision. I don't have a card, I don't go to the club. It was 14 years ago. If anyone wants to join what is affectionately known as 'Royal Marrickville', what they need for two years membership is $5. That will get them two years membership. Years ago it used to be $2, but it has gone up to $2.50. This is a local, community based organisation.

So, that's fixing up the Cooks River, women's health centres and a refuge for women and children escaping violence. I support every one of the grants as a local member, and I'm proud to defend my electorate, the inner west of Sydney. (Time expired)

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The member for Casey?

Aaron Violi

Aaron Violi Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy

I seek leave to table documents clearly showing the Prime Minister's longstanding relationship with the Marrickville Golf Club, including being a location where he injured himself and developed a black eye and a broken rib—

Leave not granted.

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The member for Cunningham will leave the chamber under 94(a). Those sorts of interjections are highly disorderly. The same rules apply to both sides of the chamber.

The member for Cunningham then left the chamber.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

Leave is not granted, Mr Speaker, but I'm happy to take another question, including for when I defended open space in my electorate.

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.