One Nation Accuses Australian Government of Funneling Multicultural Grants to Labor Seats
Party claims nearly 90% of funding since 2022 election went to seats held by Labor MPs, calling for greater transparency.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has accused the Australian government of directing nearly 90% of multicultural grant funding to seats held by Labor MPs since the 2022 federal election. Hanson characterized the alleged practice as "the same old corruption" and called for the government to release all documents related to the grants.
One Nation's analysis, based on federal GrantConnect data for multicultural grants administered by the Department of Home Affairs, found that Labor-held electorates received approximately $340.35 million of the $385.94 million distributed over four years. The analysis indicated that in the 2025-26 financial year alone, Labor-held electorates received 94% of the allocated funding.
The value of multicultural grant funding reportedly surged from $5.87 million in 2022-23 to $325.77 million in 2025-26, a more than 55-fold increase. According to Hanson, 87.1% of this funding in 2025-26 was awarded through closed, non-competitive processes.
Electorates identified as receiving the highest grant values were all Labor-held. Macnamara in Melbourne reportedly received the most funding with $55.06 million, followed by Watson, the electorate of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, with $46.05 million. Other top recipients included Melbourne with $27.86 million and Parramatta with $25.73 million.
Hanson specifically criticized the allocation of funds to Tony Burke's electorate, stating, "Hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds are being splashed on Labor seats through closed processes." She also raised concerns about funding provided to the Australian National Imams Council, which is based in Burke's electorate.
One Nation also categorized grants by religious affiliation, reporting that Muslim organizations received the largest share at $86.7 million, followed by Jewish groups at $77.5 million and Christian groups at $71 million. The total for Jewish funding includes approximately $33 million allocated for rebuilding and security following a firebombing attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue and Community Centre in 2024. Hanson acknowledged this funding was justified but argued it did not account for the broader distribution patterns.
A spokesperson for Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly stated that the figures include election commitments, security measures, and community infrastructure programs aimed at strengthening social cohesion. The spokesperson added, "We make no apologies for investing in local communities and, if other political parties don’t want to back Australians, that’s up to them. We’re focused on building strong... communities." The Daily Mail has approached Tony Burke for comment.