“If this conversation encourages that to be sped up,and we get rules in that,then I think that is a good thing and I will be participating in that discussion.”
The online gambling firm paid $8960 for a dinner to support Rowland’s election campaign at Rockpool,a Sydney restaurant popular with politicians and business people,in March. On May 19,three days before the federal election,Sportsbet paid $10,000 to Rowland’s campaign. At the time,she was the shadow minister for the same portfolio with oversight of elements of gambling policy.
Rowland insists the Sportsbet donation did not affect her decision-making,arguing she should be judged on her policymaking record. She points to the government’s intention to prevent the use of credit cards for online gaming and to create a self-exclusion register for problem gamblers. Both of these policies were instituted by previous governments and are supported by the gambling industry and Sportsbet.
Rowland’s Coalition counterpart,communications spokesman David Coleman,did not directly answer questions onQ&A about whether he would also rule out taking funds from Sportsbet. Sportsbet donated $278,000 in the last financial year,including $143,000 to the Coalition and $135,000 to Labor.
“We follow the rules,” he said,adding that he was waiting to hear the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry looking into electoral rules and campaign finance.
“The government has not changed the laws. The minister is basically saying something that was OK a few weeks ago for her isn’t okay today.”
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