Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has once again lied to us. This time in relation to the Marrickville Golf Club that was given $6.05million in taxpayer funds by his government and with his direct involvement in the decision to do so.
Last week, he denied in Parliament to having a close relationship with the club following allegations of pork barrelling and that he had not disclosed his honorary membership.
He stated that he has had nothing much to do with the club and yet video footage shows him speaking at the club during the 2019 election promising them $350,000!
He also campaigned against having the golf club being downgraded from an 18-hole course to just nine.
In August, West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne – a staunch Albanese supporter – posted on Facebook: “We are proceeding with a $6million renovation of the Marrickville Golf Clubhouse funded by the club’s most famous patron Anthony Albanese.”
Keep in mind that this was in addition to a $270,000 grant by the NSW Crown Lands department to fix the sewage issue, which Albanese had suggested was the primary reason why the $6million grant was required.
News24 has also revealed that he still owns a property in Beauchamp Street, Marrickville just a short distance from the golf club (see blue highlighting in map below).
The presence of a golf club usually adds value to properties in close vicinity, so it was most likely in Albanese’s financial interests to have it remain viable and attractive to current and potential members and visitors.
According to land title records, the property, just a 200-metre walk from the golf course, was purchased by Albanese and his then-wife Carmel Tebbutt on April 8, 2006.
The couple bought the three-bedroom home for $997,500 and the property is now worth an estimated $2.6 million.
Ownership was later transferred solely to Albanese on August 23, 2019, following his divorce from Ms Tebbutt.
Since 2019, RP Data records show the property hasn’t changed hands, but it has been listed for rent twice, first in November 2022 just a few months after Albanese moved into The Lodge, for $1,350 a week, then again in May 2025 for $1,450 a week.
The rental listing touted the federation home’s position in “the heart of a vibrant lifestyle precinct, just a short stroll to great parks.”
He also separately owned a three-bedroom house at 95 Beauchamp Street, Marrickville with Ms Tebbutt, which they bought in 2012.
The property was later sold for $2,350,000 in 2021 – one year before Albanese won the election.
Albanese previously considered his property ownership sufficiently relevant to his advocacy for the golf course that he declared it as an interest.
While campaigning to save Marrickville Golf Club from having part of the course converted to parkland in 2019, Albanese said: “I declare an interest.”
“I live in Beauchamp Street … and I have been coming here for decades and using this club,” Albanese said at the time.
His earlier recorded comments clearly contrast with his efforts to distance himself from the club after it emerged that he held an undeclared honorary membership.
He said he was given the honorary membership “fourteen years ago” in 2012, and emphasised that social memberships only cost $5 for two years.
However, he failed to mention that a full golfing membership at the club costs $1,100.
Albanese has declared other honorary memberships, including an honorary membership of Royal Sydney Golf Club granted in 2025, so why not in Marrickville?
“I knew about one, I didn’t know about the other. When I know about things I declare them,” he said. But he didn’t in this case!
The $6million funding grant was awarded through the Albanese government’s invitation-only Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program (MLCI).
The Centre for Public Integrity recently found the $560 million MLCI program heavily favoured seats held by the Labor Party.
CPI analysis found 73% of funding went to ALP-held electorates.
That compared with 23% to Coalition-held electorates and 4% to others.
Albanese’s lies and obfuscation have now become legendary – they will undoubtedly feature prominently in his legacy as Australia’s worst ever Prime Minister.
We all remember his lie when he clearly fell off a stage but then claimed he hadn’t.
And when he claimed he wasn’t shouted at during a visit to the Lakemba Mosque.
And when he promised “50 times” not to change negative gearing and CGT.
And when he promised his government’s tax changes would not lead to a fall in house prices or an increase in rents.
And when he promised to attend the Garma Festival this year but then chose not to.
The list goes on – including numerous lies during the Voice campaign and two Federal elections, including promising a $275 reduction in power bills by 2025 – and no change to superannuation.
When Nationals Senator and then Minister Bridget McKenzie inadvertently omitted to declare honorary membership in the Wangaratta Clay Target Club – which had been granted $36,000 – she quit Cabinet – largely as a result of Albanese’s pressure.
Now, Albanese has granted $6,050,000 to a small golf club – 168 times as much!
It really is time he packed his bags and took off to live in his $4million Copacabana clifftop property.
We’ve had enough of his lies.
Thanks to Oscar Godsell at News24 together with eBay Australia (‘Fire the Liar’ flags), 7News and Johannes Leak for his cartoon
