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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| How donations to political parties from gambling companies linked to horse racing have surged | How donations to political parties from gambling companies linked to horse racing have surged |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A total of $2.7m has been donated to the major parties in the past decade from eight companies | A total of $2.7m has been donated to the major parties in the past decade from eight companies |
| Political donations made to the major parties by gambling lobby groups have surged more than 600% in the past decade, new analysis shows, as the debate over whether to implement a total ban on gambling advertising rages on in Canberra. | Political donations made to the major parties by gambling lobby groups have surged more than 600% in the past decade, new analysis shows, as the debate over whether to implement a total ban on gambling advertising rages on in Canberra. |
| The figures, reported to the Australian Electoral Commission and analysed by the parliamentary library, show donations from the biggest gambling companies involved in horse betting to the major parties have increased from $66,650 in 2013-14 to $488,000 in 2022-23, representing a 632% growth. | The figures, reported to the Australian Electoral Commission and analysed by the parliamentary library, show donations from the biggest gambling companies involved in horse betting to the major parties have increased from $66,650 in 2013-14 to $488,000 in 2022-23, representing a 632% growth. |
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| The analysis has prompted the Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to accuse Labor and the Coalition of “lining their pockets” with “blood money” donations due to their ties to “gambling-fuelled animal cruelty” in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. | The analysis has prompted the Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to accuse Labor and the Coalition of “lining their pockets” with “blood money” donations due to their ties to “gambling-fuelled animal cruelty” in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. |
| Reported data shows gambling donations over the decade first surpassed $100,000 in 2015-16 and peaked at $561,195 in 2021-22. | Reported data shows gambling donations over the decade first surpassed $100,000 in 2015-16 and peaked at $561,195 in 2021-22. |
| A total of $2.7m has been donated to the major parties in the past decade from eight companies. Labor has received $1.49m while the Liberals have got $952,500 and $263,300 has ended up with the Nationals. | A total of $2.7m has been donated to the major parties in the past decade from eight companies. Labor has received $1.49m while the Liberals have got $952,500 and $263,300 has ended up with the Nationals. |
| Tabcorp was the largest donor over the period, giving Labor and the Coalition a total of $1.02m. | Tabcorp was the largest donor over the period, giving Labor and the Coalition a total of $1.02m. |
| Sportsbet, which donated $823,050 since 2013-14, has offered more than $600,000 since 2020-21. | Sportsbet, which donated $823,050 since 2013-14, has offered more than $600,000 since 2020-21. |
| Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), which was formed after the Australian Wagering Council was disbanded in 2016, has tipped $651,320 into the major parties’ donation jars in seven years. The donations are relatively evenly split with $306,820 to Labor and $344,500 to the Liberals and Nationals. | Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), which was formed after the Australian Wagering Council was disbanded in 2016, has tipped $651,320 into the major parties’ donation jars in seven years. The donations are relatively evenly split with $306,820 to Labor and $344,500 to the Liberals and Nationals. |
| A spokesperson for RWA said: “Like many major industries, RWA typically participates in political memberships rather than making donations, as these memberships connect businesses with policymakers to discuss relevant policy matters.” | A spokesperson for RWA said: “Like many major industries, RWA typically participates in political memberships rather than making donations, as these memberships connect businesses with policymakers to discuss relevant policy matters.” |
| Donations reported to the federal electoral body over the disclosure threshold are publicly released in the following financial year. | Donations reported to the federal electoral body over the disclosure threshold are publicly released in the following financial year. |
| Spending and donation caps, and a lowering of the disclosure threshold, are on the table as part of electoral reforms promised by the Albanese government but have yet to reach bipartisan support. | Spending and donation caps, and a lowering of the disclosure threshold, are on the table as part of electoral reforms promised by the Albanese government but have yet to reach bipartisan support. |
| Political parties can also raise funds from private companies by offering access through ticketed business forums and observer programs. | Political parties can also raise funds from private companies by offering access through ticketed business forums and observer programs. |
| A Sportsbet spokesperson said it was one of hundreds of businesses involved in government consultations through business forums. | A Sportsbet spokesperson said it was one of hundreds of businesses involved in government consultations through business forums. |
| “Our memberships to these forums are disclosed in accordance with the law and our overall donations have decreased over each of the past three years,” the spokesperson said. | “Our memberships to these forums are disclosed in accordance with the law and our overall donations have decreased over each of the past three years,” the spokesperson said. |
| A government spokesperson said: “Labor has a clear policy on donation reform, and improving the transparency of our system.” | A government spokesperson said: “Labor has a clear policy on donation reform, and improving the transparency of our system.” |
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| The Coalition and Tabcorp were approached for comment but did not respond in time for publication. | The Coalition and Tabcorp were approached for comment but did not respond in time for publication. |
| Australia’s gambling losses have surged from $25.6bn annually pre-Covid to $32bn in 2022-23, according to data from the Queensland government released in September. | Australia’s gambling losses have surged from $25.6bn annually pre-Covid to $32bn in 2022-23, according to data from the Queensland government released in September. |
| The Melbourne Cup is due to hold its 164th race on Tuesday, and a number of federal politicians are expected to attend the big sporting event. | The Melbourne Cup is due to hold its 164th race on Tuesday, and a number of federal politicians are expected to attend the big sporting event. |
| The popularity of the event has been declining in recent years. A 2023 Essential poll showed just 11% reported a “high interest” in the Melbourne Cup, down five points from when the question was asked before the 2022 race. | The popularity of the event has been declining in recent years. A 2023 Essential poll showed just 11% reported a “high interest” in the Melbourne Cup, down five points from when the question was asked before the 2022 race. |
| Faruqi said the major parties needed to sever their financial lifeline to gambling groups to address the “scourge of gambling or the cruelty of horse racing”. | Faruqi said the major parties needed to sever their financial lifeline to gambling groups to address the “scourge of gambling or the cruelty of horse racing”. |
| “Labor and the Liberals work for their donors and lobby groups,” she said. “They don’t care about the pain that gambling causes to so many in this country. They don’t care that a horse gets killed every two days on racetracks in this anachronistic, grotesque festival of cruelty. | |
| “All they care about is lining their pockets with donations from the gambling industry.” | “All they care about is lining their pockets with donations from the gambling industry.” |
| A Sportsbet spokesperson said its partnerships with racing bodies and its regulatory engagement ensured racing could be “enjoyed responsibly for generations to come”. | A Sportsbet spokesperson said its partnerships with racing bodies and its regulatory engagement ensured racing could be “enjoyed responsibly for generations to come”. |
| “Racing is the lifeblood of communities right around Australia and Sportsbet makes a significant economic contribution to these communities.” |