MPs Accept Free Tickets from Gambling Firms Amid Reform Calls
Dozens of federal MPs have declared receiving free tickets to major summer events, including horse races, the Ashes cricket series, the Australian Open tennis tournament, and concerts, according to parliamentary registers of interests. This disclosure comes as the government faces mounting calls to restrict wagering advertisements and enhance regulation of the gambling sector.
Gambling Companies Host Politicians
At least six federal Labor and Liberal politicians, including an assistant minister and shadow ministers, have accepted free tickets and hospitality from major gambling companies in the past six months. Tabcorp and Sportsbet, two of Australia's leading wagering firms, provided these perks, raising ethical concerns amid ongoing debates over gambling reform.
Anthony Chisholm, the assistant minister for regional development and agriculture, declared twice in recent months that he accepted tickets and hospitality from Tabcorp for major horse race meets in Victoria and Queensland. Sportsbet, Australia's largest online bookmaker, also gifted tickets to events such as rugby union matches, the Australian Open, and race meets to Labor MPs Raff Ciccone and Dan Repacholi, Coalition shadow ministers Dan Tehan and Tim Wilson, and Liberal MP Mary Aldred.
Disclosure Requirements and Criticism
Politicians are required to disclose any gifts or hospitality, including free tickets to major events, in their parliamentary register of interests, which is publicly accessible online. Over 30 MPs have declared free tickets for cricket matches during the Ashes series, while at least 10 have reported receiving tickets to the Australian Open from various sources.
Kate Chaney, an independent MP advocating for gambling reforms, criticized the practice, stating, "Sure, technically no rules have been broken, and these gifts have been declared. 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." She added that politicians need to stop pretending these companies offer free tickets out of generosity.
Specific Instances and Responses
Chisholm disclosed that Tabcorp provided him with four tickets and hospitality on two occasions: at Melbourne's Derby Day in November and the Gold Coast's Magic Millions Race Day in January. Tim Wilson, the new shadow treasurer, reported that Sportsbet gave him and his spouse attendance at the Caulfield Guineas race meet in Melbourne in November.
Dan Tehan, the shadow energy minister, disclosed that Sportsbet provided tickets for himself and two guests at the Australian Open men's semi-final in January. Mary Aldred declared receiving two tickets to the same tennis semi-final from Sportsbet. Raff Ciccone, a Victorian senator and chair of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security, declared being a guest of Sportsbet at the Australian Open with two tickets and hospitality.
Dan Repacholi, the special envoy on men's health, reported receiving four tickets and hospitality from Sportsbet to attend the Wallabies' rugby union match against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney last August.
In response, a Sportsbet spokesperson said the company makes "significant contributions" to sports and racing through taxes and fees, and advocates for "meaningful, measured reform" in advertising, including frequency caps and bans on ads in stadiums or on jerseys. The spokesperson noted that Sportsbet has reduced its TV advertising and occasionally hosts stakeholders, including elected representatives, at major events.
Broader Context and Other Disclosures
The federal government is under increasing pressure, including from within its own partyroom, to outline long-mooted gambling reforms and finalize its response to a parliamentary report chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which recommended a ban on wagering ads.
In other recent disclosures, numerous Labor MPs received cricket tickets from Cricket Australia, including Ali France, David Moncrieff, Zhi Soon, Kara Cook, and Varun Ghosh. Assistant ministers Ged Kearney, Matt Thistlethwaite, and Anthony Chisholm, along with Coalition members such as Zoe McKenzie and Ben Small, also declared tickets from Cricket Australia.
Minister Murray Watt declared tickets to two days of the Brisbane Test, one from Cricket Australia and another from lobbying firm Anacta. Former opposition leader Sussan Ley and health minister Mark Butler declared tickets for the Sydney "pink" Test, attending a charity high tea for the McGrath Foundation.
For the Australian Open, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Labor assistant ministers Peter Khalil and Julian Hill, and Nationals MPs Bridget McKenzie and Sam Birrell declared tickets from Tennis Australia. Independent MP Andrew Gee reported tickets from Emirates, while Ged Kearney declared two tickets from liquor group Asahi.
Julian Hill disclosed tickets and hospitality for himself and his spouse to the men's semi-final, and Peter Khalil reported two tickets to the VIP lounge at the tournament, valued at approximately $1,200 per person. Other MPs, such as Josh Wilson and Tim Watts, declared tickets from Tennis Australia and Nine Entertainment Co for tennis events.
Anthony Albanese also declared tickets to an Oasis concert from Venues NSW in November, while Ged Kearney reported two tickets to Oasis from AFL House, priced at $183 each.
