![]() And if this conversation encourages that to be sped up and we get results in that, I think that’s a good thing and I’ll be participating in that discussion. I think this is an area of long overdue reform and the Albanese government has had a long held position for example of decreasing the disclosure threshold, so it’s a lower amount that needs to be disclosed, but also having real time reporting. I think this highlights one very important aspect and that’s about disclosure of political donations. Rowland also pointed to what else she had learned from the outcry: ![]() Pressed on whether that included other gambling companies, Rowland said, “As I said, I am now the minister, I will not be taking money from Sportsbet.” Rowland looked like she was going to say more, but was cut off. Rowland had declared the donations as required under the law and Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke launched passionate defences of the minister, saying she had met every obligation in front of her and was leading the government’s harm minimisation policy for online gambling.īut Rowland had stayed rather quiet on the whole affair – until appearing on the ABC’s Q+A program overnight, where she said that while she had met her disclosure obligations, she understands the community wants better – and she will no longer accept donations from Sportsbet. ![]() Labor did not disclose the donations because they were below the reporting threshold. That followed a report in Nine newspapers that Sportsbet paid for a campaign dinner and made a second donation to Rowland’s campaign in the lead-up to the federal election. ![]() Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a staunch anti-gambling campaigner, led the charge for her resignation, saying Rowland, who carries the policy responsibility for interactive gaming, was “completely and utterly conflicted” as a consequence of accepting the donations and hospitality and had made a “grievous error of judgment”. The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, has faced calls to resign in the last couple of weeks, after she accepted donations from a gaming company before the election. Michelle Rowland says she will no longer accept donations from Sportsbet I recognise that this may have given rise to a potential of a perception of a conflict of interest and for that I unreservedly apologise. I’ve held these shares for over a decade so they predate my arrival as a member of parliament. Speaking to reporters this morning, Pearson said when he announced the outcome of the tender he did not recall that he held shares in Commonwealth Bank: I noted the outcome of the tender once it had been determined by the Department of Treasury and Finance.ĭespite this, I accept that it was an error of judgment to not recognise and manage the potential for a perception of conflict of interest and I unreservedly apologise for this oversight.įor avoidance of doubt, I have spoken to the premier and advised him that I will place all of my shareholdings in a blind trust. The process was run by senior independent public servants and there was a probity auditor engaged throughout who signed off on the process. In a statement this morning, he said he was “not a decision maker in the awarding of the banking and financial services contract in 2021”: ![]() The new arrangement, including the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB, replaced a contract with Westpac that had been worth an estimated $120m a year.Īccording to the parliament’s register of interests, Pearson has held the shares since 2014. The Australian today reported Danny Pearson held shares in the bank when he announced a new three-bank panel to deliver Victoria’s banking and financial services in August 2021. Victoria’s assistant treasurer, Danny Pearson, has conceded it was an “error of judgment” to hold shares in Commonwealth Bank while carrying out his ministerial duties. Victoria’s assistant treasurer denies conflict of interest over shares ![]()
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