Shocked ex-Wallabies star kicked out of social club
Independent senator David Pocock fears he could be kicked out of a parliamentary social sports club after voicing concerns about the sponsor of a gambling lobby.
Australian Parliament Sports Club It hosts friendly matches between MPs, staff, public officials and journalists during parliamentary session weeks.
Responsible Wagering Australia, the peak group for gambling companies, is the club’s corporate sponsor.
The former Wallabies captain said he was “shocked to learn the club was selling access rights to parliamentarians”.
“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,” he said.
Senator Pocock has criticized the federal government’s failure to respond to a major gambling harm inquiry that recommends a ban on online betting advertising.
Independent MP Allegra Spend called Senator Pocock’s ban an “absolute disgrace” and resigned from her membership.
The club’s chief executive, Andy Turnbull, denied there was any lobbying activity on the ground, saying the club was registered on the “safe side” given that members included MPs and corporate sponsors.
Sponsors, including alcohol, pharmaceutical and financial companies, have been featured in the club newsletter since at least 2024.
Senator Pocock, who said that he did not read the newsletter and was not notified when he signed up, requested a donation of $ 2500 from Responsible Wagering Australia.
Mr Turnbull told Senator Pocock that he intended to deregister the club following written approval from the Attorney General’s Office, which administers the rules.
In an email to Mr Turnbull seen by AAP in October, the department confirmed “you will not need to register based on the information you have provided”.
Mr Turnbull told the department: “I reaffirm that neither organization has ever been paid to make government representation on behalf of others.”
Senator Pocock opposed the deregistration proposal and said “if there are paid corporate members who interact with parliamentarians” it should be listed.
Mr Turnbull said he had no problem accepting gambling sponsors because the club “takes the view that it should be agnostic to its corporate members”.
“It is not the club’s job to determine what is right and wrong in this respect when its own members of parliament have such broad and divergent views on most issues,” he said in a message in September.
“Currently, sports gambling is not an illegal or prohibited activity.”
Mr Turnbull texted Senator Pocock again on Thursday evening, saying he was “the first to politicize the most apolitical operation in parliament” after the ACT representative raised the issue at a parliamentary hearing.
“I have been scratching my head in disbelief for the last 24 hours. It is inappropriate for you to remain a member of the club under these circumstances,” he wrote.
“You chose a cheap move that will have no impact on the outcome of your anti-gambling campaign.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this, but you left me no choice.”
Responsible Betting CEO Kai Cantwell said the group complies with all disclosure and transparency requirements and that parliamentary sports has never been about lobbying on the field but through appropriate channels.
“This is about giving not just parliamentarians, but everyone who works in the building, a rare chance to step away from demanding schedules and enjoy an hour of exercise,” he said.
“I have been involved in parliamentary sport in various roles for over seven years, long before joining RWA, as it is something I truly enjoy and value.”
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
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