The Australian Labor government is facing criticism for its allocation of a $560 million Major and Local Community Infrastructure program, with an independent report indicating that over 73 percent of the funds, totaling $409 million, have been designated for electorates held by Labor.
The Centre for Public Integrity, which published the findings, noted that Labor held only 52 percent of seats at the time of the 2025 election campaign. Had the funds been distributed proportionally based on representation, Labor-held electorates would have received approximately $291 million, suggesting an excess allocation of nearly $118 million to government-held seats.
This pattern has drawn comparisons to past criticisms leveled by current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against the former Coalition government. When in opposition, Albanese decried the Coalition's distribution of public funds into politically advantageous electorates as "a political pork-barrelling campaign on an industrial scale" and accused them of treating taxpayer money as party funds.
Critics highlight the irony, pointing to Albanese's own past statements. In 2010, he reportedly criticized John Howard's 2003 Regional Partnerships Program, which saw over 73 percent of its funding go to Coalition seats. The current government's allocation mirrors this percentage, but the context differs as Labor now controls the distribution.
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The report further indicates that Labor marginal seats received $66.5 million more than their proportional share, and 45 electorates received no funding from the program. Researchers found no correlation between the allocations and household income or community connectedness, suggesting partisan advantage as the primary pattern.
Concerns have also been raised about the application process. The program has been described as "invitation-only," limiting communities' ability to compete for funds based on merit and need. Instead, the government reportedly selected recipients before the bureaucracy assessed the choices.
An example cited is the Marrickville Golf Club, located in Albanese's electorate, which was reportedly allocated $6 million. In contrast, Rutherglen Golf Club, in the electorate of independent MP Helen Haines, reportedly was not even permitted to apply for a grant, despite facing structural issues.
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While the allocations have not yet been formally awarded, the partisan nature of the distribution remains evident. The government's defense that ministers could not approve projects in their own electorates is seen by critics as an insufficient safeguard when political decisions allegedly precede bureaucratic review.
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The situation has been contrasted with the $100 million "sports rorts" scheme under the Morrison government, which Labor strongly criticized at the time for allegedly corrupting a competitive process. Critics argue that Labor's current program avoids competition entirely, embedding political selection from its inception.