Shambles as Albanese's own office fails to explain how it manages Labor conflicts of interest

Detailed summary

Anthony Albanese's office has been unable to explain how potential conflicts of interest involving ministers are monitored, enforced or escalated.

Published: 05:15 GMT, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 05:16 GMT, 12 November 2026

Anthony Albanese's office has been unable to explain how potential conflicts of interest involving ministers are monitored, enforced or escalated, according to evidence heard at a Senate inquiry.

Officials from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) made the admission during a Senate inquiry into Labor's controversial community grants program on Thursday.

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie repeatedly pressed staff on how the government manages conflicts of interest and who approved a series of taxpayer-funded projects announced before the 2025 election.

The questioning centred on the $570million Major Local Community Infrastructure Program (MLCIP), which has faced scrutiny over significant grants awarded to projects in Labor-held electorates.

This included the $6.05million funding for Marrickville Golf Club in the Prime Minister's electorate, which has attracted political scrutiny.

Senior PM&C official Blair Exell admitted the department does not monitor compliance with the Prime Minister's ministerial code of conduct.

'The code is the Prime Minister's document. The Prime Minister is responsible for its implementation and monitoring compliance with that document,' he said.

When asked whether they proactively alert Albanese to potential ministerial breaches, Mr Exell said: 'We don't see that as our role to identify those things.'

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