Former Wallabies star David Pocock booted from parliamentary sports club | David Pocock

Independent ACT senator David Pocock, a former Wallabies captain, has been banned from joining Parliament House’s social sports club after he raised concerns about gambling industry sponsorship.

The former rugby star said on Thursday night he was no longer welcome at Australian Parliament Sports Club events and was accused of politicizing the organisation. He was removed from group chats discussing his events.

The club told Pocock it was inappropriate for him to remain a member due to public criticism.

The club confirmed on Friday it had sent the messages to Pocock.

Pocock was one of several MPs who last month criticized the gambling lobby’s sponsorship of the federal parliament’s sports club, claiming it had paid to secure access to decision-makers and cement betting’s close relationship with sport.

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The senator also accused lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia of trying to “shamelessly” claim he was involved with a running group dedicated to eliminating suicide, hosted by the parliamentary sports club. The peak body rejected this claim.

The club also rejected claims that social games were nothing more than a chance for politicians and staff to relax and exercise during parliamentary sitting weeks.

Pocock told Guardian Australia he was appalled by the decision to ban a senator who had raised concerns about the club’s operations, rather than restricting who could sponsor them.

“Being kicked out of the club for raising concerns about gambling lobbyists buying access to the club shows the influence of vested interests here in parliament and how normalized this has become,” Pocock said.

The club’s chief executive Andy Turnbull confirmed on Friday morning that he had banned Pocock from the group.

At a Senate estimates hearing this week, Pocock questioned his role as chairman of the prime minister’s sports club, given that it is registered as a lobby group with clients from the gambling, alcohol and fossil fuel industries.

On Friday morning, Anthony Albanese accused Pocock of “inserting himself into a story” and praised the sports club for raising money for charity.

“The amount of time I spent at the Australian Parliament Sports Club this year is zero,” Albanese said.

“I attended zero events in terms of sports. Just because I was a little busy.”

When concerns were first raised about lobbyists’ sponsorship and involvement in the games, Turnbull suggested they were misplaced.

“Firstly, there is an unwritten rule that no one should talk business on sports grounds. This is the only time MPs have time to relax and not do business, and I am working hard to ensure that is the case,” Turnbull said.

“Secondly, I have always been of the view that the larger the organization, the less likely they are to ‘use’ the club inappropriately. This is true for RWA, who spend their entire lives prosecuting the case on behalf of their industry.”

Last month, RWA chief executive Kai Cantwell said he did not use the club to lobby politicians and attended matches “solely to enjoy exercise and socializing – something that is important to all Australians, especially in high-pressure roles”.

“RWA’s work on regulation and harm reduction occurs through appropriate parliamentary and regulatory processes, not on the sporting field,” Kantwell said.

On Monday night the ABC’s Four Corners broadcast a vision of a football match organized by the club and highlighted the RWA’s presence among politicians.

On Wednesday afternoon, Turnbull received advice from the Attorney General that he did not need to register the club on the lobbyist register as it was not actively lobbying on behalf of sponsors. Turnbull said last month that the decision to list the club was taken “to be on the safe side”.

But Catherine Williams, chief executive of the Center for Public Integrity, said the club offered “an invaluable opportunity for monied interests to build relationships with members of parliament and their staff”.

in Australia, Online Gambling Help You can be reached at 1800 858 858. National Debt Helpline It is 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found through the NHS. National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722 or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call: National Council on Problem Gambling Enter 800-GAMBLER or send a message to 800GAM.