Months before Pocock ban, Albanese attended sports club event with gambling executive
The prime minister has previously said he has not attended any “events in terms of sport” organised by the group, which accepted money from the gambling lobby.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at an event also attended by a gambling executive hosted by the Australian Parliament Sports Club (PSC) months before independent senator David Pocock was booted for questioning its ties to the betting industry.
The saga has reignited concerns about the threat of 'grey influence' in parliament, centred around events and spaces which give registered lobbyists almost unfettered access to key decision-makers.
The PSC organises touch football and soccer games for politicians, their staff and journalists (including from Capital Brief) during parliamentary sitting weeks. It was listed on the attorney-general’s lobbyist register last month, but was de-registered days after Pocock’s removal.
Albanese, who became PSC president after assuming office, stated last week that he had attended “zero events in terms of sports” run by the club this year. However, Capital Brief can reveal that the prime minister did attend the PSC launch in July, which was also attended by gambling industry lobbyists.
