Transparency International Australia is calling for urgent action in the wake of this week’s Four Corners‘ investigation into Clubs NSW and how it has used political donations, revolving doors of lobbyists and standover tactics to exert control over public policy and enable money laundering in NSW.
The undue influence of the gaming lobby has eroded trust in our democracy and led to decisions being made in favour of private interests over the public. Comprehensive reforms are needed to level the playing field and create open, fair and transparent political system.
The revelation that money laundering in the gambling venues was an ‘open secret’ is a clear warning to policy-makers that greater oversight and regulation of the gambling industry is needed.
Transparency International Australia CEO Clancy Moore said:
“The claim that venues made the decision to waive compliance rather than alienate lucrative gambling patrons is particularly concerning. This is supported by the NSW Crime Commission’s finding last year that billions of dollars in dirty money was being laundered through NSW poker machines.”
“Whoever wins the election in NSW should ensure gaming venues have requirements for mandatory, registered cashless gambling cards with daily limits and proper money laundering checks.”
“It’s also critical to note a culture of donations to help buy access and influence from the gaming lobby to politicians. ClubsNSW alone has donated $2.7 million to political parties and given gifts of cherries, bottles of Penfolds and Christmas hampers to MPs since 1999. This harms our democracy, creates an uneven playing field and shows why reform is badly needed.”