Open Politics
open politics

Private interests of Australia's politicians

GiftsTravel and hospitality

The price of admission

Federal politicians from NSW and Queensland never miss an opportunity to promote their love of the people's game in the belief it makes them more relatable to voters - think the PM with the Sharks and the Opposition Leader with his Rabbitohs. But, unlike the average spectator, they rarely pay to attend games, with the NRL and others providing free tickets. Does the public end up paying the bill?

Sean Johnson12 April 2022

A view from the nose bleed seats. Politicians watch from corporate boxes with waiters serving alcohol and canapes.

The table below lists 36 MPs and senators who've declared 110 free tickets and hospitality from the NRL, NRL clubs, and other corporate influence peddlers since the May 2019 election.

While there was no price of admission, the public wears the cost as the largesse leaves politicians - particularly government representatives - indebted to the sporting codes and more likely to help administrators when they put their hands out for public funding.

Due to this risk Open Politics believes there needs to be a total ban on MPs and senators accepting sporting tickets - or any benefits from private interests - above a nominal value.

If you feel the same way, join our campaign by contacting your local MP and asking them to make an election commitment to not accept any gifts, free or subsidised travel, and hospitality.

Contact details for your local MP

NameDateInterestPersonDetails
Anthony Albanese30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets to State of Origin Game 1 on 5 June 2019 from NRL
Anthony Albanese30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets to West Tigers vs South Sydney NRL game on 27 June 2019 from West Tigers Football Club
Anthony Albanese30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets to State of Origin Game 3 on 10 July 2019 from NRL
Anthony Albanese01/11/201911. GiftsSelfTickets to games including the NRL Grand Final from the NRL
Anthony Albanese17/07/202011. GiftsSelf26 Feb 2020 - Commemorative personalised football from the NRL
Anthony Albanese19/10/202011. GiftsSelfDuring the NRL season, I was a guest of South Sydney football club as a life member.
Anthony Albanese19/10/202011. GiftsSelfI attended 3 games of the NRL as a guest of the NRL.
Anthony Albanese13/07/202111. GiftsSelfGift from NRL - 2 Tickets to State of Origin Game 1 - Wednesday, 9 June 2021
Anthony Albanese06/09/202111. GiftsSelfDuring the NRL season, I was a guest of South Sydney football club as a life member.
Anthony Albanese02/04/202211. GiftsSelf11 March 2022 - Guest of Brisbane Broncos at Round 1 of NRL
Angie Bell15/07/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfNRL State of Origin tickets & hospitality CBus Stadium. Guests of The Star
Angie Bell15/07/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfNRL Titans vs. Eels tickets & hospitality CBus Stadium. Guests of Southern Cross Austereo
Jim Chalmers29/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfState of Origin Game 1 Match with Lion (x1 ticket in corporate box) on 05 June 2019 in Brisbane
Jim Chalmers23/03/202111. GiftsSelf3 x Queensland State of Origin replica training jerseys, one signed by team. Received from Lion Nathan.
Jim Chalmers30/03/202212. Travel or hospitalitySelfNRL Round 1 - Brisbane Broncos v South Sydney hosted by Chairman, Brisbane Broncos (1x ticket in Chairman's Lounge) on 11 March in Brisbane
Anthony Chisholm17/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x tickets and hospitality State of Origin Game 1, Suncorp Stadium, 5 June 2019, guest of Lion Nathan
Anthony Chisholm27/11/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 x ticket and hospitality State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion
Anthony Chisholm28/05/202111. GiftsSelf4 x tickets to the NRL Magic Round 14-16 May 2021, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane courtesy of the NRL
Anthony Chisholm28/05/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 ticket plus hospitality to day 3 of the NRL Magic Round on Sunday 16 May 2021 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, guest of Senator Don Farrell, courtesy of the Australia Rugby League Commission.
Anthony Chisholm07/07/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x tickets and hospitality Game II of the 2021 Ampol State of Origin, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 27 June 2021, guest of Tabcorp
Anthony Chisholm06/10/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x ticket and hospitality at the NRL Preliminary Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Friday 24 September 2021, guest of NRL Commission Chairman and CEO
Anthony Chisholm24/03/202212. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 x ticket and hospitality at NRL Broncos vs Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 11 March 2022, guest of Broncos Chairman and Board of Directors
Richard Colbeck04/02/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfAttendance at State of Origin Match hosted by NRL (10 July 2019)
Richard Colbeck02/04/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfAttendance at NRL Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys (13/3/20)
Vince Connelly18/05/201911. GiftsSelf1 x corporate box ticket to State of Origin game 2 (23 June) - provided by BGC
Vince Connelly18/05/201911. GiftsDependent children1 x corporate box ticket to State of Origin game 2 (23 June) - provided by BGC
Milton Dick07/12/202011. GiftsSelfAccepted Ticket and Corporate hospitality State of Origin III Qld V NSW Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Peter Dutton11/04/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets to State of Origin Suncorp Stadium courtesy of Former Origin Greats
Justine Elliot09/12/202011. GiftsSelfAccepted 2 tickets and corporate hospitality State of Origin 3 QLD v NSW (Brisbane) Wednesday 18 November 2020
Trevor Evans27/07/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfTicket to NRL Broncos vs Bulldogs match 11 July including corporate hospitality from Brisbane Broncos - with partner
Trevor Evans21/12/202111. GiftsSelfChristmas hamper from the Brisbane Broncos NRL
Trevor Evans27/07/202012. Travel or hospitalitySpouse/partnerTicket to NRL Broncos vs Bulldogs match 11 July including corporate hospitality from Brisbane Broncos - with partner
Don Farrell26/10/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 ticket to and hospitality at the NRL Telstra Premiership Men's and Women's Grand Finals on Sunday 25 October 2020 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, courtesy of the NRL.
Don Farrell25/05/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 tickets plus hospitality to Day 3 of the NRL Magic Round on Sunday 16 May 2021 at Suncorp Stadium Brisbane courtesy of the Australia Rugby League Commission.
Joel Fitzgibbon11/04/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfApril 13, 2019 - NSW Mining, 2 x tickets & hospitality Knights NRL game
Josh Frydenberg06/02/202013. MembershipsSelfMelbourne Storm Rugby League Club - Honorary membership for 2020 season and No. 1 ticket holder for 2020 season.
Nita Green05/07/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfTicket to State of Origin match at QLD Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 09 June 2021 from Anacta Strategies.
Steve Irons30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 NRL Tickets and Hospitality State of Origin game
Matt Keogh12/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfBox tickets to State of Origin game 2 in Perth on 23 June 2019 with Mineral Resources. Value unknown.
Michelle Landry08/01/202011. GiftsSelfCorporate ticket to State of Origin 2019
David Littleproud25/05/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfTicket to NRL Bulldog match on Saturday 15th May 2021, Guest of the Board
David Littleproud25/05/202113. MembershipsSelfPatron of the NRL Canterbury Bulldogs Club
Michael McCormack25/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets to State of Origin Game 1 as guest of Tabcorp on 5th June 2019
James McGrath22/10/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets (including food and beverages) to NRL Grand Final Sunday 3 October 2021 compliments of O'Donnell Law
Bridget McKenzie26/10/202011. GiftsSelfTickets x 2 to NRL premiership from Telstra
Scott Morrison10/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfGift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the NRL Grand Final on 6 October 2019.
Scott Morrison10/10/201911. GiftsSelfGift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles NRL game on 14 September 2019.
Scott Morrison12/10/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfGift of 1 x ticket from the Cronulla Sharks to attend the Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks NRL game on 3 October 2020.
Scott Morrison26/10/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfGift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the NRL Grand Final on 25 October 2020.
Ben Morton30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfAGI - State of Origin Tickets
Ben Morton21/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfKen Allen Medal Dinner - NRL
Ben Morton21/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets - NRL Grandfinal - NRL WA
Ben Morton21/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfGrandfinal - NRL WA
Marise Payne30/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfPenrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels NRL Game, Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club
Graham Perrett18/07/201911. GiftsSelfState of Origin Tickets by Telstra
Keith Pitt15/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets x 2 - State of Origin Brisbane (Telstra) [declared as deletion but no original entry]
Stuart Robert15/07/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfState of Origin Gold Coast - CB Finance
Stuart Robert01/10/202111. GiftsSelfTicket to NRL Grand Final - CB Finance
Stuart Robert04/10/202111. GiftsSelfTicket to NRL Grand Final - CB Finance
Michelle Rowland29/07/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets and hospitality from Lion Co for self and guest (not spouse) to State of Origin NRL on Wednesday 5 June 2019 in Brisbane.
Michelle Rowland31/08/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfTickets and hospitality for self and seven (7) others from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020
Michelle Rowland29/03/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfTicket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium.
Michelle Rowland31/08/202012. Travel or hospitalitySpouse/partnerTicket and hospitality from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020
Michelle Rowland29/03/202112. Travel or hospitalitySpouse/partnerTicket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium.
Dave Sharma30/09/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTwo tickets to NRL semi-final Easts vs Melbourne at SCG, 28 Sep 2019
Bill Shorten11/04/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfCOMPLIMENTARY MEMBERSHIP OF MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE
James Stevens25/11/202011. GiftsSelfOne ticket to Rugby League State of Origin at Adelaide Oval from SA Government
Matt Thistlethwaite17/09/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x tickets to the NRL Corporate Suite at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Rabbitohs v Roosters preliminary final on 13 September 2019 courtesy of the NRL.
Matt Thistlethwaite02/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x Tickets and hospitality to NRL Premilinary Final - Raiders v Rabbitohs 27.09.19
Matt Thistlethwaite28/07/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 ticket to the corporate suite at the Rabbitohs v Newcastle NRL game (Sat 18 July 2020) Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Park Provided by the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Matt Thistlethwaite29/09/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfTwo tickets to the Rabbitohs corporate suite for the Rabbitohs v Roosters NRL game - 25 September 2020
Matt Thistlethwaite09/10/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfSix general admission tickets to the Rabbitohs v Knights NRL semi final game, ANZ Stadium - Sun 4 October 2020 provided by the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Matt Thistlethwaite22/10/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x tickets to the NRL Preliminary Final Rabbitohs V Panthers, NRL Corporate Suite ANZ Stadium - 17 October 2020.
Murray Watt03/02/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelf1 x ticket to the attendance of the 2020 State of Origin in Brisbane on 18 November 2020. Sponsored by Lion. Ticket value - $1480 incl GST
Anika Wells18/05/201911. GiftsSelfState of Origin tickets for Round 1 at Suncorp Stadium from Lion Co
Anika Wells11/01/202112. Travel or hospitalitySelfHospitality and 1x ticket to State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion.
Ken Wyatt11/04/201911. GiftsSelfState of Origin NSW v Qld
Trent Zimmerman11/04/201911. GiftsSelf2 tickets - State of Origin Sydney Olympic Park - Tabcorp - 10 July 2019

David Collard’s previous arrest by NYPD in 2013

Deputy PM’s former confidant charged with assault and harassment

Scale Facilitation's inflated invoice to UK subsidiary raises questions about VAT refund

Scale Facilitation established a company in tax haven of Malta

The missing piece of the integrity puzzle: politicians' private interests