Documents tabled in response to an order of the Senate moved by ACT Independent Senator David Pocock to produce documents reveal a cosy, open door relationship between the PM, his senior advisers and the gambling industry.

Not all documents were released with the Prime Minister claiming public interest immunity over an undisclosed number of documents.

However the 41 pages of redacted material that was released paint a disturbing picture of the level of access gambling companies and their representatives have to the Prime Minister and his office.

Emails confirm the PM met with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and their Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs on Tuesday 2 July 2024 to discuss wagering reforms among other agenda items. It took less than five days from the initial request being made to receiving confirmation of a meeting with the PM.

Such easy access was not granted to advocates of gambling advertising reform. The PM refused to meet with Anna Bardsley, co-founder of Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts when she came to parliament last sitting week – she was palmed off to his personal private secretary instead.

In September gambling peak lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia wrote to the PM railing against the proposed digital gambling advertising ban and requesting a meeting with him  “to discuss these matters before a final decision is taken.”

A similar letter was sent from the NRL.

One senior adviser offered Responsible Wagering Australia a coffee catch up at a cafe nearby to the PM’s electorate office in response to a request to meet with the PM.

Within 24 hours of making a request to meet, a senior advisor responded to Sportsbet who asked to pop in for a moment to coincide with meetings on the same day with staff from Minister Rishworth and Rowland’s offices in March.

“More than a year after the Murphy Review recommendations were handed down, Australians deserve answers about why the government still hasn’t acted to curb the serious harm from gambling advertising,” Senator Pocock said.

“These documents paint a picture of a Prime Minister and his office enjoying a close relationship with unfettered access.

“This level of lobbying from the gambling industry to our country’s most senior decision maker and his staff is extremely concerning.

“It’s clear why the government has been resisting the total gambling advertising ban recommended by the Murphy Review given this level of access and lobbying from the gambling industry.

“This must stop – reducing harm and ensuring the wellbeing of Australian communities must be the Prime Minister’s priority, not pandering to the gambling lobby.”

These documents come a week after another Senate Order revealed the Prime Minister had “relied on a recollection of published material” that was not able to be identified when he said that lotteries were causing more harm to the Australian community than sports betting.