Background: a high-profile protest against gambling sponsorship
Independent ACT senator and former Wallabies captain David Pocock has been barred from attending events at the Australian Parliament House Sports Club after publicly criticizing the club’s sponsorship by the gambling industry. The former rugby star was told on Thursday night that he was no longer welcome at club events and that he had been removed from group chats discussing future activities. The club said it viewed his continued membership as inappropriate given his public criticisms of gambling sponsorship.
The club later confirmed that messages informing Pocock of the ban had been sent on Friday. Pocock’s removal comes after he was among several crossbench MPs who questioned the involvement of the gambling lobby in financing and hosting activities at the parliament’s social sports club during a period of growing scrutiny about access and influence.
The issue at the heart of the dispute
Last month, Pocock and other crossbench MPs accused the gambling lobby, Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), of paying to secure access to decision-makers and of entrenching wagering’s close ties with sport. Pocock also challenged the RWA’s broader claims, pointing to what he described as efforts to brand the club’s running and social events as separate from lobbying activity while he alleged a broader attempt to influence policy and perception.
The RWA has rejected the assertion, saying its involvement is focused on regulation, harm reduction, and responsible gaming, and that its appearances at social events are intended to be benign and social, not political or promotional. The club echoed those assurances, stating the games are meant to give politicians and staff a chance to relax and exercise during sitting weeks, with sponsors covering event costs.
Pocock’s position and the club’s response
Pocock told Guardian Australia that banning a senator for raising concerns about gambling lobbyists buying access demonstrates how entrenched influence has become in parliament. Club chief executive Andy Turnbull confirmed the ban, noting that Pocock had been removed from the group chats and would not be welcome at future events. He defended the decision as a point of principle and argued that the club had to maintain a non-political atmosphere, especially given external scrutiny surrounding sponsorship.
During parliamentary scrutiny, Pocock had questioned the prime minister’s role as chair of the sporting club, particularly given that the club is registered as a lobby group with clients from the gambling, alcohol, and fossil fuels sectors. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded by defending the club’s charitable work and stating that his personal involvement with the club was minimal, calling the speculation about his role overblown.
Governance, lobbying concerns, and public accountability
The dispute has intensified debates about how sporting clubs associated with parliaments operate, and whether sponsorships from vested interests influence government decisions. Critics argue that clubs offer a channel for informal lobbying and relationship-building that could shape policy outcomes, while supporters say the events provide important social and fitness opportunities for MPs and staff and are largely separate from political decisions.
The debate has intensified after media coverage highlighted the club’s ties to sponsors and the presence of RWA at social matches. The club has maintained that there is no lobbying activity on the field, and that the charity components of its events remain a central feature of its operations.
Looking ahead
As questions about governance and transparency persist, stakeholders are calling for clearer rules around lobbying disclosures and the role of corporate sponsorship in parliamentary social clubs. The Centre for Public Integrity has warned that such arrangements can provide access for monetized interests, while defenders urge a clear separation between sport, social life, and policy development.
For those seeking help with problem gambling, resources are available through Gambling Help Online (Australia), the National Debt Helpline, and international equivalents such as GamCare and the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic.
