Travel and hospitalityGifts

Backers of beer tax campaign ply politicians with booze and hospitality

The (un)successful campaign to cut the beer tax was funded by the Australian Hotels Association, the Australian Brewers Association, and Clubs Australia. Open Politics details the booze and hospitality these organisations and their members have dished out to MPs and senators since the last election.(Despite Newscorp media confidently predicting a budget cut, the night turned into a fizzer for the industry. All that lobbying and largesse wasted.)

Sean Johnson15 March 2022

Photo by engin akyurt

As reported by Sky News yesterday, the Federal government is planning to cut the tax on beer served in pubs and clubs, purportedly to help support an industry hit hard by COVID.

However the expected changes probably have more to do with a lobbying campaign conducted by Australian Hotels Association (AHA), the Australian Brewers Association (ABA), and Clubs Australia, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting last week that over 20 government MPs and senators have been pressing the Treasurer for the tax cut.

What's not so well known is that the AHA, the Australian Brewers Association, Clubs Australia and their member organisations (Lion Co and Carlton & United are members of the ABA, and ClubsNSW and ClubsACT of Clubs Australia) have provided free beer and hospitality to at least 26 politicians over the course of the parliamentary term, as detailed below. We say 'at least' because there is no requirement for MPs and senators to disclose gifts and hospitality under $300.

NameDateInterestPersonDetails
Anthony Albanese26/11/202111. GiftsSelfGift hamper from ClubsACT
Kevin Andrews6/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfI attended the annual Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Board meeting in Melbourne
Chris Bowen4/02/202211. GiftsSelfSix pack of Little Creatures Pale Ale from Lion Brewing
Andrew Bragg18/10/201911. GiftsSelfIn kind donation from Lion Co in support of office opening on 25 September 2019.
Andrew Bragg18/10/201911. GiftsSelfIn kind donation from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch in support of office opening on 25 September 2019.
Andrew Bragg3/12/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTwo tickets and hospitality as a guest of Lion Co at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 2 November.
Andrew Bragg14/08/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfHospitality from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch on 7 August 2020
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 Chalmers19/09/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfPress Gallery Mid-Winter Ball tickets courtesy of LION (x2) (Wednesday 18 September 2019)
Jim Chalmers23/03/202111. GiftsSelf3 x Queensland State of Origin replica training jerseys, one signed by team. Received from Lion Nathan.
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
Raff Ciccone29/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x tickets and hospitality to the Furphy Marquee, Melbourne Cup, on 5 November 2019 guest of Lion Beer Australia.
Jason Clare1/04/202111. GiftsSelf1 x Gift box from Lion Australia - valued at $30 received on 18th March 2021
Jason Clare10/12/202111. GiftsSelf1 x gift box from Clubs NSW - received on 24 November 2021 - valued at $100
Jason Clare17/01/202211. GiftsSelf1 x Case of Beer from Lion Corporation – value at $50 – received on 16 December 2021
Trevor Evans21/12/202111. GiftsSelfCarton of Little Creatures Pacific Ale from Lion Co
Don Farrell8/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfHospitality for two courtesy of Tabcorp and Lion at Melbourne Cup, Melbourne on 5 November 2019
Joel Fitzgibbon25/11/201911. GiftsSelfA bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 from ClubsNSW
Paul Fletcher29/01/202011. GiftsSelf6-pack of beer from Carlton & United Breweries
Andrew Gee25/01/202111. GiftsSelfLion – two cases of beer
Steve Irons28/09/202111. GiftsSelf2 Cartons of Furphy beer delivered to EO by Lion Beer
Matt Keogh10/01/202211. GiftsSelfChristmas card and gift from Lion, 12 cans of limited edition beer. Value unknown.
Michelle Landry8/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfTicket from the Australian Hotel Association for the AHA National Board Luncheon
James McGrath11/12/201911. GiftsSelfAlcohol from Queensland Hotels Association: 4 Cartons Beer - approximately $200; 2 Cartons x 6 Rose; 1 Carton x 6 Verdelho; 1 Carton x 6 Prosecco; 1 Carton x 6 Sparkling Wine - approximately $621.60 TOTAL: $821.60
James McGrath16/12/202111. GiftsSelf6 bottles of Pale Ale from Lion Breweries
Bridget McKenzie18/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x Tickets Corporate Hospitality and tickets to Melbourne Cup by Lion Beer
Bridget McKenzie23/12/202111. GiftsSelfBox of Little Creatures Pacific Ale from The Lion Group
James Paterson29/01/202012. Travel or hospitalitySelfTwo tickets and hospitality, Australian Open Tennis, 23 January 2020, courtesy Carlton and United Breweries
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.
Tony Smith13/10/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfLunch and Tickets to the 2019 AFL Grand Final as guest of the Carlton and United Breweries
Matt Thistlethwaite29/11/202111. GiftsSelfChristmas Hamper (from Clubs NSW)
David Van6/12/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelfHospitality - Flemington Racecourse Melbourne Cup Carnival Birdcage courtesy of Lion 1 ticket
Murray Watt3/02/202012. 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. GiftsSelfRefreshments from Lion Co for First Speech function
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.
Tim Wilson26/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Derby Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
Tim Wilson26/11/201912. Travel or hospitalitySelf2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Melbourne Cup Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
Tim Wilson3/03/202011. GiftsSelfRed, white and sparkling wine from the Australian Hotels Association.
Tim Wilson3/03/202011. GiftsSelfBeer from the Australian Brewers Association.
Tim Wilson1/10/202111. GiftsSelf2 cases of Furphy Beer from Lion Nathan to celebrate the Dees smashing the Dogs 140 - 66, acknowledging one needed a beer in the second quarter for entirely different reasons to the end of the third ...
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