The NSW Government will today introduce a bill that seeks to amend the Electoral Funding Act 2018 to outlaw political donations from clubs that house poker machines or are otherwise involved in wagering, betting or other gambling.
The proposed amendment to the Electoral Funding Act will extend the prohibited donors definition to include registered clubs if the business undertaken by the club includes wagering, betting or other gambling, regardless of their profit-making status.
Currently, the Electoral Funding Act 2018 makes it unlawful for a prohibited donor to make a political donation and for a person to accept a political donation made by a prohibited donor.
Prohibited donors include property developers, tobacco industry business entities and liquor or gambling industry business entities.
The definition of ‘liquor or gambling industry business entity’ in the Act applies to corporations engaged in business undertakings mainly concerned with the manufacture or sale of liquor products, or wagering, betting or other gambling, but only if it is for the ultimate purpose of making a profit.
Registered clubs who hold club licences are not currently included in this definition if they do not have the ultimate purpose of making a profit.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“Our bill closes a political loophole.
“It is common-sense that, if other gambling entities are banned from making political donations, it should apply to all clubs.
“I hope we can attract support from across the parliament for this overdue reform.
“This bill is an important integrity measure to strengthening the political donation system in our state.”
NSW Special Minister of State John Graham said:
“This bill will ban political parties from accepting financial donations from clubs with gaming machines – it is another election commitment we are seeing through.
“From January 16 this year, NSW Labor took action to not accept donations from clubs with gaming machines. This bill will extend that ban to every state political party.”
