Australian politicians collecting free gifts from bookmakers

Public governance and transparency organization Open Politics, has drawn attention to the way Australian public officials have been collecting gifts from the gambling industry going as far back as the 2019 elections. According to the body, this will constitute a conflict of interest with the politicians who might have to make laws against these companies.

In an analysis of the parliament’s interest register, Open Politics note that the gambling industry has gifted MPs close to 150 free tickets to a variety of shows, sporting events and hospitality. The agency note that majority of the gifts have come from Tabcorp with Sportsbet, Australian Hotels Association, ClubsNSW and land-based casino operator Star Entertainment also providing some of the gifts.

Of the 150 tickets, Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland has accepted 17 between the May 2019 till now. Before the 2022 federal elections, the minister accepted 10 tickets from Tabcorp, including the ones to see the Melbourne Cup carnival at Randwick racecourse in November 2, 2021. She also collected two tickets from Star Entertainment to see the Hamilton musical on November 6, 2021 and four more hospitality tickets for herself and three others.

Last month, Rowland was publicly criticized and asked to step down from her portfolio for collecting donations from Sportsbet even as she was Communications officer with duties relating to regulating gambling companies like Sportsbet. But the minister later came out with a public apology and a promise not to accept donations from gambling companies.

Her counterpart, former communications minister Paul Fletcher and his wife were the guests of Tabcorp and Network Ten at the 2019 Melbourne Cup. Also, Liberal MP Anne Ruston while serving as shadow minister for sport went to the semi-finals of the 2022 Australian Open at the invitation of Sportsbet.

While this is not a crime, collecting gifts from private companies as a public official may lead to repercussions such as the public losing faith in your integrity, the agency notes. The executive director of The Centre for Public Integrity, Han Aulby, called the practice “unacceptable”.

Transparency International Australia’s chief executive, Clancy Moore, added: “While accepting gifts is not technically illegal, it does raise serious questions. It’s even more problematic when a minister ostensibly responsible for the regulation of gambling is accepting thousands of dollars’ worth of tickets, perks and alcohol from some of gambling’s biggest names.”

Meanwhile, the gambling companies named have been contacted for comments. Sportsbet refused to comment while Tabcorp said: “Tabcorp is very transparent about hosting key stakeholders, including members of parliament, at major racing and sports events across Australia. That is well known.”

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