Litany of former federal ministers have taken lobby jobs with betting firms, report shows. Follow the day’s news live
Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
At least seven former federal ministers and advisers to prime ministers have worked for or lobbied on behalf of gambling companies since 2011, new analysis has claimed.
The study by Transparency International and Melbourne University academic Jenn Lacy-Nichols warns of a “revolving door” between politics and gambling and describes regulation of lobbyists as “ineffective”.
Australia’s federal lobbying regulation is weak compared to international standards and information about the revolving door amongst lobbyists is sparse.
Revolving door cooling off periods are rife with loopholes, rarely enforced and carry no real punishments. This means there is very little to stop wealthy individuals and companies from getting special access to policymakers and shaping our laws for personal gain.