Anthony Albanese has conceded he was wrong to tell parliament a $6 million federal grant for Marrickville Golf Club was aimed at stopping raw sewage flowing into the Cooks River.
The prime minister corrected the record after federal Infrastructure Department officials confirmed at Senate estimates that the grant does not cover sewerage works, despite Mr Albanese’s earlier statements in the House of Representatives.
“That was not correct. The state government had moved in and are funding the project,” Mr Albanese told the chamber.
“The NSW government is funding the sewerage-related aspects of the club, which has been an issue for a very long time.
“The funding was going to be for sewerage; the NSW government has stepped in, which is appropriate because NSW run water and sewerage.”
The clarification came after weeks of scrutiny over the grant, which has drawn attention because of Mr Albanese’s long association with the club and his undisclosed honorary membership.
Under questioning on Monday, department officials contradicted the prime minister’s earlier account of the project.
“It does not include sewerage works,” a department official confirmed.
Most of the Commonwealth funding is instead earmarked for a broad redevelopment of the Royal Marrickville clubhouse.
That includes a new bar, new furnishings, outdoor dining, office and meeting spaces, a redesigned pro shop and a “dog-walking station”.
Mr Albanese strongly defended the grant in parliament last month, insisting it was needed to address long-running wastewater problems at the site.
“When it floods in Marrickville, raw sewage flows into the Cooks River. That is what the funding is for,” he told the House of Representatives.
On another occasion, he told MPs: “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.”
In parliament, Manager of Opposition Business Dan Tehan pressed the prime minister to explain whether he had misled the House through those repeated claims.
“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,” Mr Tehan said.
“Just admit you got it wrong and tell the truth.”
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who has pursued the matter through an inquiry and Senate estimates, argued the prime minister now owes parliament an apology.
“This prime minister is a man who clearly can never admit when he has got it wrong. He was given three opportunities in Question Time in the house to apologise for misleading parliament on his commentary last month,” Ms McKenzie said.
“The prime minister does need to apologise for misleading parliament, because our democracy is based on trust.”
Mr Albanese has defended the grant as worthwhile for the local community and has maintained he was not responsible for giving its final approval.
Located beside the Cooks River in Sydney’s inner west, Marrickville Golf Club is known as a public, community venue with a long local history.
The current course has operated since the 1940s and is used by golfers, walkers and local residents alike.