Govt in a bind
Australia’s federal government is coming under increasing pressure for its long delay over gambling reforms as more reports surface of MPs accepting freebies from firms including Sportsbet and Tabcorp.
The Guardian reported on Wednesday that at least six federal Liberal and Labor MPs accepted free tickets from major gambling firms to high-profile sporting and entertainment events in the past six months.
Independent MP Kate Chaney summed up the polarizing freebie practice, stating “technically no rules have been broken, and these gifts have been declared.” She added:
But it stinks”
“Australians can see right through it – they want gambling reform but instead they get gambling companies wining and dining leaders at expensive sports events.”
Chaney is one of the politicians pushing for restrictions on betting ads and improved betting regulation.
Tickets galore
According to reports, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Queensland Senator Anthony Chisholm has accepted Tabcorp’s free tickets and hospitality for major horse race meets in Victoria and Queensland.
Chisholm said he received four tickets and hospitality at Melbourne’s Derby Day in November, and January’s Magic Millions Race Day on the Gold Coast.
Sportsbet, meanwhile, dished out freebies to rugby union, tennis, and horseracing events to MPs Raff Ciccone, Dan Repacholi, and Mary Aldred, as well as shadow MPs Tim Wilson and Dan Tehan.
the Australia v England Ashes cricket series, Australian Open tennis, and an Oasis concert
The Guardian reported on Wednesday that over 30 politicians have lawfully declared receiving freebies over last summer, including the Australia v England Ashes cricket series, Australian Open tennis, and an Oasis concert in November.
MP Chaney, however, stated that MPs who take gifts from gambling firms “need to wake up and stop pretending that gambling companies give away free tickets to politicians because they’re nice guys.”
In defense
Responding to the media exposure, reports cited a Sportsbet spokesperson as stating: “From time to time, like many businesses, we host stakeholders including elected representatives and their staff at major sporting and racing events.”
The Sportsbet spokesperson added, however, that the online betting firm had made “significant contributions” to sports and racing via fees and taxes, and that it was advocating for “meaningful, measured reform” including banning ads in stadiums and cutting down on TV ad volume.
