Labor has handed responsibility for a $200 million community battery grant program to the federal government’s independent renewable energy agency, as the auditor-general considers claims of pork barrelling against the Albanese government.

South Australian independent MP Rebekha Sharkie likened the Community Batteries for Household Solar program to the sports rorts saga under the former Morrison government, asking Auditor-General Grant Hehir to investigate the first two rounds of funding since last year’s election.