Independent senator David Pocock, a former captain of the Wallabies, has been declared persona non grata by the Parliament Sports Club, after he complained about its sponsors including a gambling lobbyist.
Pocock, who represents the ACT, said on Friday he had recently brought to light that lobbyists were “buying access to parliamentarians” through $2500 club sponsorships. The club was on the official lobbyists register, he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is the club’s president, Special Minister of State Don Farrell is its chairman, and it has an executive officer, Andy Turnbull. It organises social sporting events for parliamentarians, including touch football and soccer when parliament is sitting.
Pocock said the club’s sponsors included peak industry body Responsible Wagering Australia, “whose CEO is a regular participant in matches with parliamentarians”.
He said he first raised his concerns privately with Turnbull. He subsequently went public, including at this week’s Senate estimates hearings. Late Thursday, he was told he was out.
In a message to Pocock, Turnbull criticised his handling of the matter and said in the circumstances it was “inappropriate for you to remain a member of the Club”.
“You haven’t actually paid your subs this Parliament so no further action is required,” Turnbull wrote.
“I will remove you from the lists and you are not welcome to attend fixtures operated by the Club.”
He accused Pocock of a “cheap shot that will have no effect on the outcome of your anti gambling campaign”.
At Senate estimates, Pocock questioned whether it was appropriate for Albanese to be “the president of a lobbying firm”.
In reply, Foreign Minister Penny Wong accused him of wanting “to get a grab up” but admitted she did not even know there was such a club.
Asked on Friday whether he should be president, Albanese said that “as prime minister it comes with the gig”, and accused Pocock of seeking publicity.
“I think that’s David Pocock being David Pocock, getting himself in a story. You know, this is a voluntary organisation that raises money for charity.
“The amount of time I have spent on the Australian Parliament Sports Club this year is zero. I have participated in zero events in terms of sports, just because I’m a bit busy.”
Pocock said he was dismayed by the club’s decision to remove a parliamentarian “rather than tighten the criteria of companies who can sponsor the club, or reconsider whether the parliamentary sports club should have corporate sponsors at all”.
“Being kicked out of the club for raising concerns around gambling lobbyists buying access to the club shows the influence vested interests have here in parliament and just how normalised this has become.
“It’s no wonder we haven’t seen the action to end gambling advertising the majority of Australians are desperate to see when gambling lobbyists are calling the shots in Canberra,” Pocock said.
Crossbencher Allegra Spender, who left the club this week over the gambling link, said on Friday it was “an absolute disgrace” Pocock had been excluded.
“To see the parliamentary sports club operating as a front for a gambling industry that spreads so much misery, breaks my heart. I can’t be part of a club that promotes the gambling lobby.”
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