National watchdog complaint over group founded by Labor’s Fowler candidate, Tu Le

Questions have been raised over Anthony Albanese’s pick for Fowler, after group founded by Tu Le was probed by the national watchdog.

Clouds have re-emerged over a series of government grants received by an organisation co-founded by a star Labor candidate personally endorsed by Anthony Albanese.

The Daily Telegraph understands more than $30,000 of grants received by The Youth Co-Lab — co-founded by Labor’s Fowler candidate Tu Le — were referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last year.

It’s understood the NACC requested more information from the referrer earlier this month over the grants, which were received while Ms Le was employed by former Labor Fowler MP Chris Hayes.

Ms Le’s LinkedIn states she was a ‘campaign manager’ from January 2018 to September 2019, with it understood she worked in the office of former Fowler MP Mr Hayes during that time.

Tu Le, the federal Labor Candidate for Fowler and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meet locals in Freedom Plaza, Cabramatta. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

While she was employed in Mr Hayes office, an organisation she co-founded – The Youth Co-Lab – received a $20,000 grant, while another grant was awarded a month later for a branch of The Youth-Co-lab, called Kitchen Co-Lab, for $14,563.

Another grant was awarded to The Youth Co-Lab for $4,850 in 2022.

The $14,563 grant, government grant documents show, is listed under the Stronger Communities Program – with projects submitted under the program selected by the local Member of parliament for further consideration.

It’s understood a complaint was submitted to the NACC last year over whether or not there had been a declaration of a conflict of interest in the grant allocation process.

The NACC, when contacted for comment, said the organisation usually doesn’t comment on individual referrals, but highlighted that before the election it had issued guidance including that it’s inappropriate to “announce a referral to the Commission for collateral, including political, purposes”.

There is no suggestion Ms Le personally profited from the grant process.

Mr Albanese and Ms Le were both asked whether they were aware of the NACC referral, including whether Mr Albanese was aware of it when he directed the preselection of Ms Le.

A Labor spokeswoman said the referral “is desperate mudslinging against a candidate who is rightly proud of her volunteering and work in the community”.

Anthony Albanese with Tu Le at a Fowler fundraiser before the 2022 election. Picture: Facebook

“It is that strong community record, including the Kitchen Co-Lab funded under the former Morrison Government, that makes Tu Le the best representative for Fowler,” she said.

“At no point has Tu Le been remunerated for her volunteer work, and she is proud to continue her community advocacy”.

Mr Hayes in 2022 endorsed Ms Le to replace him as Labor’s candidate for the seat, only for the party instead parachuting in former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally.

The move backfired disastrously, with independent candidate Dai Le flipping the previously safe seat from Labor.

The party worked to rectify that at this year’s election, with internal Labor documents, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, stating Tu Le was preselected as Labor’s candidate after Mr Albanese requested the preselection be handled by the party’s National Executive.

Mr Albanese, earlier this month, said of Tu Le: “I have supported, and encouraged very strongly, Tu Le to run for Fowler. She’s a gun candidate. She is a future cabinet minister”.

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Originally published as National watchdog complaint over group founded by Labor’s Fowler candidate, Tu Le