Independent senator David Pocock won’t re-join a parliamentary sports club even after a repentant organiser invited him back after a spat over a gambling lobby sponsor.
An unlikely Canberra brouhaha centred on the social pick-up matches spiralled in intensity on Friday, dragging in even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Albanese serves as the president of the Australian Parliament Sports Club, which hosts friendly games between MPs, their staff and journalists during parliamentary sitting weeks.
Senator Pocock was an enthusiastic participant until he realised the group accepted funding from Responsible Wagering Australia, a peak group for gambling companies.
The former Wallabies captain, who said he was said he was “shocked to learn that the club was selling access to parliamentarians”, queried a $2500 sponsorship before being booted by club chief executive Andy Turnbull.
“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,” the ACT senator said.
The 37-year-old has campaigned against gambling ties to sport and is critical of the federal government’s failure to respond to a landmark inquiry that recommended banning online betting advertising.
Independent MP Allegra Spender called the banning of senator Pocock “an absolute disgrace” and resigned her membership, with Sophie Scamps, another crossbench MP, reportedly joining her.
Asked his opinion, Mr Albanese told Nine newspapers he was “not wasting any time on this issue” but “participation should be open to everyone”.
After the prime minister weighed in, Mr Turnbull opened his arms to senator Pocock.
“If the PM says Dave Pocock should be re-instated, who am I to argue,” he said.
But senator Pocock declined the invitation, which was delivered to media, and not to him.
“Even if the club reversed their decision, I wouldn’t be rejoining the Parliamentary sports club unless they undertook a transparent, open process to consider the appropriateness of all current and future sponsorships,” he said.
The episode has shown a light on one of the lesser-known ways groups can attempt to influence politicians – though Mr Turnbull denies lobbying or wrongdoing.
The club was on as a lobby register, but Mr Turnbull said that was to be “on the safe side” and, following advice from the Attorney-General’s department, he would seek to remove its listing.
Mr Turnbull had told the department the organisation had “never been paid to make representations to government on behalf of others”.
Sponsors include alcohol, pharmaceutical and financial companies and have been listed in the club newsletter since at least 2024.
Senator Pocock said he had not read the newsletter and wasn’t aware when signing up.
He took issue with the offer to deregister, saying it should be listed “if there are paying corporate members who interact with parliamentarians”.
Mr Turnbull said he had no problem accepting gambling sponsors because the club had “taken the view that it must be agnostic with respect to its corporate members”.
He fumed at senator Pocock on Thursday evening in a message, saying he had “become the first person ever to politicise the most apolitical operation in the parliament” after the ACT representative raised the issue at a parliamentary hearing.
“I have, for the last 24 hours, just scratched my head in disbelief. It is inappropriate for you to remain a member of the club in these circumstances,” he wrote.
“You chose a cheap shot that will have no effect on the outcome of your anti-gambling campaign.
“I am sorry it has reached this point but you left me with no choice.”
Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell said the group had complied with all disclosure and transparency requirements and parliamentary sports had never been about lobbying, which was done via proper channels and not on the field.
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