Grant program heavily favoured Labor seats, leaving 45 electorates without invitations

A review by the Centre for Public Integrity of the $560 million Major and Local Community Infrastructure (MLCI) grants program revealed a strong bias toward Labor-held and target seats ahead of the 2025 federal election. Of the more than 220 projects invited, 73% of the funding was directed to seats notionally held by Labor, while only 23% went to Coalition-held seats. Safe and fairly safe Labor electorates received $493 million, whereas seats where Labor was not competitive got just $66 million.

Forty-five electorates, such as Independent MP Helen Haines' Indi, were not invited to apply at all. The sole golf club awarded a grant was Marrickville Golf Club in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Grayndler electorate, receiving $6 million for upgrades. Officials said the program followed existing grant rules, but critics argue the closed, invitation-only process lacks transparency.