7am How the gambling lobby infiltrated social sports at Parliament House
Oct 5, 2025
Join media reporter Daanyal Saeed, who has investigated the controversial ties between the Parliament Sports Club and the gambling lobby. Discover how this seemingly wholesome sporting gathering transformed into a lobbying powerhouse with ties to the Prime Minister and major sporting bodies. Saeed reveals the implications of the Murphy Review, which suggested urgent reforms against gambling ads, and discusses the slow government response to these recommendations. Explore the conflicting interests of different sporting codes in the face of gambling revenue.
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Club Run By Established Lobbyist
- The Parliament Sports Club is run by long-time lobbyist Andy Turnbull and his company Sports Hydrant, with high-profile political figures on the board.
- The club mixes MPs with sporting bodies and corporate members, creating structured access for outsiders.
Corporate Access To Politicians
- Representatives from major sporting codes and big corporates regularly attend the club's sessions.
- Corporate membership starts at about $2,500, making access to politicians effectively a paid opportunity.
Gambling Lobby Sponsorship Revealed
- The club accepted sponsorship from Responsible Wagering Australia, the gambling industry's lobby group.
- Andy Turnbull defended the sponsorship by calling the club agnostic due to diverse parliamentary views.