Australian senator slams gambling lobbyists’ access to government 

Documents revealing correspondence and meetings between Australia’s Labor government and sports betting lobby groups have been revealed in the country’s parliament, with one senator slamming the engagement as “pandering”.

The revelations were prompted by Senator David Pocock, who described gambling lobbyists’ access to the government as “extremely concerning”.

The documents detailed emails between the office of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and representatives from several pro-industry parties to arrange meetings to discuss gambling advertising reforms.  

The groups in question include trade body Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League and operator Sportsbet.

However, the published correspondence also showed reformist pressure groups the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) and Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts had attempted to set up meetings with Albanese via his office.

In fact, on 3 June, AGR’s chief advocate Tim Costello and CEO Martin Thomas wrote to the prime minister to attempt to arrange a meeting to discuss the report compiled by late Labor MP Peta Murphy, who recommended a blanket ban on gambling advertising.  

In the letter, the group doubled down on Murphy’s stance, claiming that restrictions on gambling advertising “will not work” and that a three-year phased ban on gambling ads was the correct course of action.  

AGR sent another email to Albanese’s senior adviser on 17 June to organise a meeting to discuss progress following the 12-month anniversary of Murphy’s report. 

Costello wrote to the prime minister again on 12 September to arrange a meeting to “clarify our position on gambling reform”. 

He claimed that Albanese believed him to be “a prohibitionist against all gambling rather than one who is seeking gambling reform”, alleging that the Labor leader has a “misunderstanding of my position”.  

The cache of correspondence, which was published in the Australian parliament, also include similar proposals and questions from pro-industry groups and bodies in what has proven to be a strongly contested legislative topic Down Under.

The emails were published after Pocock asked for all correspondence since 1 January to be made public.

In terms of the pro-industry side of the debate, a representative from Sportsbet contacted Albanese’s office on 19 March to arrange a meeting to discuss the operator’s views on recommendations made in the Murphy inquiry.

The NRL contacted Albanese’s personal assistant in July 2024 to arrange a meeting discussing wagering and reforms during the Parliamentary Friends of Rugby League Canberra event.  

On 12 August, the RWA wrote a letter to the prime minister expressing its “deep concerns” about potential restrictions on gambling ads.  

The letter was cosigned by representatives of RWA member organisations including Sportsbet, bet365, PointsBet, Betfair and Unibet.  

The RWA sent a follow-up letter in September calling for a meeting with the PM, claiming that proposed restrictions would lead to an increase in black market activity.  

Pocock suggested that the government’s close relationship with lobby groups may be halting progress in introducing substantial gambling reforms in the country.  

However, Pocock’s comments came despite the government also agreeing to meet with reformist lobbyists.

He said: “These documents paint a picture of a prime minister and his office enjoying a close relationship with unfettered access. This level of lobbying from the gambling industry to our country’s most senior decision maker and his staff is extremely concerning. 

“It’s clear why the government has been resisting the total gambling advertising ban recommended by the Murphy Review given this level of access and lobbying from the gambling industry. 

“This must stop – reducing harm and ensuring the wellbeing of Australian communities must be the prime minister’s priority, not pandering to the gambling lobby.” 

In response, a spokesperson for Albanese said: “As is appropriate, the government has engaged with stakeholders regarding the recommendations from the online wagering inquiry as we formulate our response.

“The government takes seriously our responsibility to protect Australians from the harms of online gambling.”