Issues
The
Racing
Lobby
The racing lobby in Australia is exceptionally powerful with deep connections to both sides of politics.
About The Racing Lobby
The Racing Lobby
The racing lobby in Australia is exceptionally powerful, wielding significant influence over state and federal governments, political parties, and media.
There has been a huge surge in political donations over the last decade with the gambling sector characterised as a “billion-dollar empire of harm” that prioritises profit over public health.
Gambling companies and their lobby groups donated approximately $894k in FY25 with key contributors including Tabcorp and Sportsbet.
These sort of donations often spike during election years to influence gambling harm reforms, such as those proposed in the Federal Government report “You win some, you lose more”.
The industry has deep connections to both sides of politics, with lobbying data indicating it is a more active lobbyist than the alcohol, tobacco, and food industries.
The sector is highly effective at resisting regulation, even in the face of public concern about gambling harm and animal welfare.
Fighting the Phase-Out in Tasmania
Recent polling by EMRS found 74 per cent of Tasmanians backed the state government’s decision to phase out greyhound racing.
Despite this a group called Greyhounds Tasmania was set up to fight the phase-out. The group is led by Luke Gatehouse who was a leading figure behind The Q, the Queensland deathtrap which has killed over 20 greyhounds and injured hundreds more since it opened in 2025.
Learn More About The Racing Lobby
