Maria Kovacic NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women
2:54 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. On 27 April 2025, the Prime Minister announced more than $6 million in taxpayer funding for the Marrickville Golf Club, a club he has spoken about attending for decades and whose facilities he has used. He was a long-term honorary member of this club until he apparently resigned last week. It has been today revealed that the Prime Minister raised the rent on his multimillion-dollar investment property, which is located right next to the club, on 6 May 2025, which was just nine days after announcing $6 million in taxpayer funds for that same club. It now apparently costs $1,450 a week to rent the Prime Minister's investment property, an increase of a hundred dollars a week in a cost-of-living crisis. Can the Prime Minister confirm whether he opportunistically raised the rent on his multimillion-dollar investment property just nine days after announcing a $6 million taxpayer funded upgrade of the nearby Marrickville Golf Club?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:55 pm
Thank you, Senator Kovacic. That question doesn't deserve an answer, Senator Kovacic.
Maria Kovacic NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women
Oh, I think it does!
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Senator Kovacic, please resume your seat. Order on my left!
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
Nasty and grubby and sleazy!
Maria Kovacic NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women
Did the Prime Minister advise Minister Catherine King, who signed off on the Marrickville Golf Club's $6 million funding, that he owned a multimillion-dollar investment property right next to the golf club, which was about to receive $6 million in funding?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:56 pm
I don't know the answer to that question, Senator Kovacic, but I shall ask him.
Maria Kovacic NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Women
The Prime Minister personally announced during the 2025 election campaign that his government would give $6 million to the Marrickville Golf Club if they were re-elected. He proudly announced in 2019 that he'd been coming to the club for years and using its facilities. Labor mayor Darcy Byrne last month called Prime Minister Albanese 'Marrickville Golf Club's most famous patron'. Does the Prime Minister honestly expect the Australian people to believe that he didn't know he was an honorary member of that club?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:57 pm
Governments make promises in the lead-up to elections. That's what the government did in the lead-up to the last election. The Australian people voted for the Labor Party. They voted for Anthony Albanese to continue as the Prime Minister, and, having won the election—having announced the project before the election—the Prime Minister honoured the undertaking that he took, and he introduced it. Can I say this about you, Senator McKenzie: we still haven't had an answer to the sports rorts while you were the sports minister. We still have not had an answer to that, and I don't—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
On a point of order, I think there have been previous rulings, Madam President—can you please draw the minister's attention to those rulings and have him withdraw.
Sue Lines President
I'll just engage with the clerk. While I do have silence in the chamber, Senator McKenzie, I would ask you once again to stop the running commentary. In the previous case, where I did ask for a withdrawal to be made, there was an allegation made. That isn't the case on this occasion. There was no allegation made. Please continue, Minister Farrell.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
He pointed at me and said, 'When you were the sports minister'—
Sue Lines President
Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie, you were constantly interjecting after I called 'order' and after I told you on numerous occasions this afternoon to be quiet or leave the chamber—all of which you ignored. You know very well, as an experienced senator, the minister is quite entitled to take your interjection, which is what he did. So please be quiet. Senator McKenzie, on a point of order.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
On a point of order, Madam President, can you please look at the ruling from former president Ryan.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Look, I would welcome it if Senator McKenzie would only answer the questions that were asked of her about the sports rorts— (Time expired)
Sue Lines President
I am advised, Senator McKenzie, in relation to that ruling by Senator Ryan, that it was about a direct allegation. As I've indicated to you, a direct allegation was not made on this occasion. That is my ruling.