Department sinks PM's claim $6m golf club grant was to fix sewage issues

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's claim that a $6 million grant awarded to the Marrickville Golf Club in his electorate was to fix sewage issues has been sunk by department officials, who confirmed that was not the purpose of the grant.

The Coalition this morning attempted to compel Mr Albanese to explain why he told the House of Representatives that the $6 million grant he promised to the Marrickville Golf Club was to upgrade its sewerage system.

"This is an opportunity for the prime minister to clear the air. This is an opportunity for the prime minister to be frank with the house," manager of Opposition business Dan Tehan said.

"Just admit you got it wrong and tell the truth.

"He needs to come into this house and explain himself."

The House of Representatives, where the government holds a majority, voted down the Coalition's attempt to compel Mr Albanese.

PM's claim rejected

At a Senate estimates hearing last night, Infrastructure Department officials rejected the prime minister's claim.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie asked the department whether or not the grant included funding for sewerage fixes, and was told it was not part of the project.

"It does not include sewerage works," a department official confirmed.

Mr Albanese has a decades-long association with the club and held an undisclosed honorary membership there, but he has defended the grant as necessary for the community and says he did not give the final approval for it.

Last month when pressed on the grant, Mr Albanese told the House of Representatives that the purpose of the golf club grant was to fix septic issues causing raw sewage to spill into the Cooks River.

"It has existed for a long time, almost 100 years, and they have a septic tank. Because it is on the flood plain, when it floods in Marrickville raw sewage flows into the Cooks River — that is what the funding is for," Mr Albanese told the House of Representatives.

The prime minister also chastised the ABC for its reporting on the grant and Mr Albanese's undisclosed honorary membership to a club which he has a decades-long association with.

"What it's for — because the ABC were told information they chose not to publish appropriately — what it's for, is at the moment because it's on a flood area by the Cooks River, when it rains and there's flooding, raw sewage goes into the Cooks River. That's what it's for, for fixing that," Mr Albanese claimed regarding the grant.

"And the ABC should do better."

Call for record to be corrected

Senator McKenzie said the prime minister had misled parliament and must correct the record.

Documents released under freedom of information laws show the brief prepared by the department to Transport Minister Catherine King, and shared with the prime minister's office, contained no mention of septic issues or sewerage works as part of the $6 million grant. 

That brief said the clubhouse refurbishment would include furniture, lighting, bar area and alfresco dining upgrades, public toilets, a dog walking station and dedicated space for local environment groups.

The brief was shared with Mr Albanese's office just days before the ABC put questions to the office about the grant and his honorary membership.

Design documents obtained by the ABC show a major renovation to the aging clubhouse, including its bar area, outdoor dining and a pro shop.

Inner West Council meeting minutes state $4.5 million from the grant will be spent to redevelop the clubhouse, $1 million on stormwater harvesting to water the course and $500,000 on botanic plantings and landscaping.