Gambling and Alcohol Companies Spend Big on Lobbying to Influence Australian Elections
Posted on February 15, 2023 in Political interference, Asia-Pacific, Asia-PacificAlcohol and gambling companies and their lobby front groups donated $2.165 million to Australia’s major political parties in 2021-22, according to an analysis of disclosure returns published by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). This level of spending on lobbying represents a 40% increase compared to the previous year.
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) CEO Caterina Giorgi and Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) CEO Carol Bennett jointly called for political donations by alcohol and gambling companies to be banned to ensure that community views are prioritised in policy discussions about proposed reforms that would affect them.