Political donations from gambling and horse racing companies surge
The figures come as the Albanese government continues to mull over a ban on gambling advertising.
Parliamentary Library research of Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) data showed racing organisations, betting companies and sports linked to horse racing donated $66,650 in 2013 to Labor and the Coalition.
This rose to $488,000 in the 2023 financial year.
The total donations from eight companies — including Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Victoria Racing Club — totalled $2.7 million across the decade.
The Parliamentary Library is an impartial research body used by Australian politicians.
Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said whenever there is talk of proposals to reform or wind back gambling advertising, the number of political donations and hospitality invitations rocket.
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“We look at the whole scandal around Qantas, this is no different in terms of big gambling providing both political donations, but also hospitality to get the ear of decision makers at a crucial time,” he said.
“Horse racing has been a bedrock of gambling in Australia, but as it tries to become more contemporary and more relevant to young Australia, that poses enormous risks as well.”
Australians gamble away $32 billion each year, the highest per capita amount in the world.
Gifts and donations
Mehreen Faruqi, the Greens senator who released the research, said “Labor has done nothing to address the scourge of gambling or the cruelty of horse racing”.
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“They’re getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in blood money donations from horse betting companies,” she said in a statement.
“The immoral industry makes sure they bankroll the major political parties to buy their silence.”
Donations peaked before the 2022 federal election at $561,195, while Labor has received $1.49 million and the Coalition over $1.2 million across the decade.
During this period, Tabcorp donated over $1 million to Labor and the Coalition.|
Murphy report
In June 2023, the bipartisan Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, chaired by the late Peta Murphy, made 31 recommendations including “a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling’’.
Thomas said it is clear that the donations are made to ensure the gambling industry’s interests are well served.
“They aren’t donating to the Greens and other organisations that support the gambling ad ban that’s been proposed by the Murphy report,” he said.
“There’s a reason companies spend millions and millions of dollars on advertising, just as there is a reason they spend money on political donations.”
According to data from the Influence Engine, 32 parliamentarians have received 60 gifts of more than $300 from gambling companies, racing clubs and lobbyists since the 2022 federal election, including the Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
Rowland said last year that she would no longer accept donations from gambling companies after she received $19,000 from Sportsbet before the 2022 federal election.
– TND
