The price of admission
Federal politicians from NSW and Queensland never miss an opportunity to promote their love of the people's game in the belief it makes them more relatable to voters - think the PM with the Sharks and the Opposition Leader with his Rabbitohs. But, unlike the average spectator, they rarely pay to attend games, with the NRL and others providing free tickets. Does the public end up paying the bill?
Sean Johnson12 April 2022
The table below lists 36 MPs and senators who've declared 110 free tickets and hospitality from the NRL, NRL clubs, and other corporate influence peddlers since the May 2019 election.
While there was no price of admission, the public wears the cost as the largesse leaves politicians - particularly government representatives - indebted to the sporting codes and more likely to help administrators when they put their hands out for public funding.
Due to this risk Open Politics believes there needs to be a total ban on MPs and senators accepting sporting tickets - or any benefits from private interests - above a nominal value.
If you feel the same way, join our campaign by contacting your local MP and asking them to make an election commitment to not accept any gifts, free or subsidised travel, and hospitality.
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Albanese | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to State of Origin Game 1 on 5 June 2019 from NRL |
| Anthony Albanese | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to West Tigers vs South Sydney NRL game on 27 June 2019 from West Tigers Football Club |
| Anthony Albanese | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to State of Origin Game 3 on 10 July 2019 from NRL |
| Anthony Albanese | 1/11/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Tickets to games including the NRL Grand Final from the NRL |
| Anthony Albanese | 17/07/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | 26 Feb 2020 - Commemorative personalised football from the NRL |
| Anthony Albanese | 19/10/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | During the NRL season, I was a guest of South Sydney football club as a life member. |
| Anthony Albanese | 19/10/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | I attended 3 games of the NRL as a guest of the NRL. |
| Anthony Albanese | 13/07/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Gift from NRL - 2 Tickets to State of Origin Game 1 - Wednesday, 9 June 2021 |
| Anthony Albanese | 6/09/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | During the NRL season, I was a guest of South Sydney football club as a life member. |
| Anthony Albanese | 2/04/2022 | 11. Gifts | Self | 11 March 2022 - Guest of Brisbane Broncos at Round 1 of NRL |
| Angie Bell | 15/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | NRL State of Origin tickets & hospitality CBus Stadium. Guests of The Star |
| Angie Bell | 15/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | NRL Titans vs. Eels tickets & hospitality CBus Stadium. Guests of Southern Cross Austereo |
| Jim Chalmers | 29/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | State of Origin Game 1 Match with Lion (x1 ticket in corporate box) on 05 June 2019 in Brisbane |
| Jim Chalmers | 23/03/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 3 x Queensland State of Origin replica training jerseys, one signed by team. Received from Lion Nathan. |
| Jim Chalmers | 30/03/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | NRL Round 1 - Brisbane Broncos v South Sydney hosted by Chairman, Brisbane Broncos (1x ticket in Chairman's Lounge) on 11 March in Brisbane |
| Anthony Chisholm | 17/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality State of Origin Game 1, Suncorp Stadium, 5 June 2019, guest of Lion Nathan |
| Anthony Chisholm | 27/11/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion |
| Anthony Chisholm | 28/05/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 4 x tickets to the NRL Magic Round 14-16 May 2021, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane courtesy of the NRL |
| Anthony Chisholm | 28/05/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 ticket plus hospitality to day 3 of the NRL Magic Round on Sunday 16 May 2021 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, guest of Senator Don Farrell, courtesy of the Australia Rugby League Commission. |
| Anthony Chisholm | 7/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality Game II of the 2021 Ampol State of Origin, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 27 June 2021, guest of Tabcorp |
| Anthony Chisholm | 6/10/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x ticket and hospitality at the NRL Preliminary Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Friday 24 September 2021, guest of NRL Commission Chairman and CEO |
| Anthony Chisholm | 24/03/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality at NRL Broncos vs Rabbitohs, Suncorp Stadium, 11 March 2022, guest of Broncos Chairman and Board of Directors |
| Richard Colbeck | 4/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attendance at State of Origin Match hosted by NRL (10 July 2019) |
| Richard Colbeck | 2/04/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attendance at NRL Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys (13/3/20) |
| Vince Connelly | 18/05/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | 1 x corporate box ticket to State of Origin game 2 (23 June) - provided by BGC |
| Vince Connelly | 18/05/2019 | 11. Gifts | Dependent children | 1 x corporate box ticket to State of Origin game 2 (23 June) - provided by BGC |
| Milton Dick | 7/12/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Accepted Ticket and Corporate hospitality State of Origin III Qld V NSW Wednesday, 18 November 2020 |
| Peter Dutton | 11/04/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to State of Origin Suncorp Stadium courtesy of Former Origin Greats |
| Justine Elliot | 9/12/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Accepted 2 tickets and corporate hospitality State of Origin 3 QLD v NSW (Brisbane) Wednesday 18 November 2020 |
| Trevor Evans | 27/07/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket to NRL Broncos vs Bulldogs match 11 July including corporate hospitality from Brisbane Broncos - with partner |
| Trevor Evans | 21/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Christmas hamper from the Brisbane Broncos NRL |
| Trevor Evans | 27/07/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket to NRL Broncos vs Bulldogs match 11 July including corporate hospitality from Brisbane Broncos - with partner |
| Don Farrell | 26/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 ticket to and hospitality at the NRL Telstra Premiership Men's and Women's Grand Finals on Sunday 25 October 2020 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, courtesy of the NRL. |
| Don Farrell | 25/05/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 tickets plus hospitality to Day 3 of the NRL Magic Round on Sunday 16 May 2021 at Suncorp Stadium Brisbane courtesy of the Australia Rugby League Commission. |
| Joel Fitzgibbon | 11/04/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | April 13, 2019 - NSW Mining, 2 x tickets & hospitality Knights NRL game |
| Josh Frydenberg | 6/02/2020 | 13. Memberships | Self | Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club - Honorary membership for 2020 season and No. 1 ticket holder for 2020 season. |
| Nita Green | 5/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket to State of Origin match at QLD Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 09 June 2021 from Anacta Strategies. |
| Steve Irons | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 NRL Tickets and Hospitality State of Origin game |
| Matt Keogh | 12/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Box tickets to State of Origin game 2 in Perth on 23 June 2019 with Mineral Resources. Value unknown. |
| Michelle Landry | 8/01/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Corporate ticket to State of Origin 2019 |
| David Littleproud | 25/05/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket to NRL Bulldog match on Saturday 15th May 2021, Guest of the Board |
| David Littleproud | 25/05/2021 | 13. Memberships | Self | Patron of the NRL Canterbury Bulldogs Club |
| Michael McCormack | 25/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to State of Origin Game 1 as guest of Tabcorp on 5th June 2019 |
| James McGrath | 22/10/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets (including food and beverages) to NRL Grand Final Sunday 3 October 2021 compliments of O'Donnell Law |
| Bridget McKenzie | 26/10/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Tickets x 2 to NRL premiership from Telstra |
| Scott Morrison | 10/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Gift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the NRL Grand Final on 6 October 2019. |
| Scott Morrison | 10/10/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Gift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles NRL game on 14 September 2019. |
| Scott Morrison | 12/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Gift of 1 x ticket from the Cronulla Sharks to attend the Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks NRL game on 3 October 2020. |
| Scott Morrison | 26/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Gift of 1 x ticket from the NRL to attend the NRL Grand Final on 25 October 2020. |
| Ben Morton | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | AGI - State of Origin Tickets |
| Ben Morton | 21/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ken Allen Medal Dinner - NRL |
| Ben Morton | 21/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets - NRL Grandfinal - NRL WA |
| Ben Morton | 21/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Grandfinal - NRL WA |
| Marise Payne | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels NRL Game, Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club |
| Graham Perrett | 18/07/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | State of Origin Tickets by Telstra |
| Keith Pitt | 15/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets x 2 - State of Origin Brisbane (Telstra) [declared as deletion but no original entry] |
| Stuart Robert | 15/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | State of Origin Gold Coast - CB Finance |
| Stuart Robert | 1/10/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Ticket to NRL Grand Final - CB Finance |
| Stuart Robert | 4/10/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Ticket to NRL Grand Final - CB Finance |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality from Lion Co for self and guest (not spouse) to State of Origin NRL on Wednesday 5 June 2019 in Brisbane. |
| Michelle Rowland | 31/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality for self and seven (7) others from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020 |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/03/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium. |
| Michelle Rowland | 31/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket and hospitality from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020 |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/03/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium. |
| Dave Sharma | 30/09/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets to NRL semi-final Easts vs Melbourne at SCG, 28 Sep 2019 |
| Bill Shorten | 11/04/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | COMPLIMENTARY MEMBERSHIP OF MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE |
| James Stevens | 25/11/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | One ticket to Rugby League State of Origin at Adelaide Oval from SA Government |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 17/09/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets to the NRL Corporate Suite at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Rabbitohs v Roosters preliminary final on 13 September 2019 courtesy of the NRL. |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 2/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x Tickets and hospitality to NRL Premilinary Final - Raiders v Rabbitohs 27.09.19 |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 28/07/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 ticket to the corporate suite at the Rabbitohs v Newcastle NRL game (Sat 18 July 2020) Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Park Provided by the South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 29/09/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets to the Rabbitohs corporate suite for the Rabbitohs v Roosters NRL game - 25 September 2020 |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 9/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Six general admission tickets to the Rabbitohs v Knights NRL semi final game, ANZ Stadium - Sun 4 October 2020 provided by the South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 22/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets to the NRL Preliminary Final Rabbitohs V Panthers, NRL Corporate Suite ANZ Stadium - 17 October 2020. |
| Murray Watt | 3/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 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 Wells | 18/05/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | State of Origin tickets for Round 1 at Suncorp Stadium from Lion Co |
| Anika Wells | 11/01/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality and 1x ticket to State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion. |
| Ken Wyatt | 11/04/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | State of Origin NSW v Qld |
| Trent Zimmerman | 11/04/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2 tickets - State of Origin Sydney Olympic Park - Tabcorp - 10 July 2019 |
