New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, has denied removing a senior minister from the state’s gambling portfolio due to pressure from the powerful clubs lobby, saying he was “never under pressure” over the decision.
Less than two weeks out from the NSW state election, on Monday Perrottet was forced to deny claims he removed senior Liberal minister Victor Dominello from his position as NSW gaming minister during his first reshuffle as premier in December 2021 due to pressure from the clubs lobby, which was allegedly unhappy at his push for gambling reform.
Insisting it was “not a focus” of his decision, the premier also denied seeing “any evidence” of the lobby using its clout to improperly pressure politicians.
Perrottet – who has made a push for gambling reform a centrepiece of his re-election bid – came under fire following calls from Dominello for a probe into the influence of main pokies lobby group, ClubsNSW, in the state’s politics.
In an interview with the ABC to air on Four Corners on Monday night, Dominello said ClubsNSW had a “sense of hubris” about its influence over NSW politics, also saying he knew “my days were going to be numbered” when he first pushed for gaming reform.
Dominello also used the interview to call for an inquiry into the influence of the clubs lobby in the state, “to make sure that MPs are not cowed into moving a certain way because of this powerful industry”.
“For the sake of our democracy, I really believe that this is an issue that the next term of government should address,” he told the ABC.
While Perrottet said that he was “very uncomfortable” about the role of donations in politics, he has balked at calls for an inquiry into the influence of the pubs and clubs lobby in the state.
Asked about Dominello’s comments, Perrottet said only that he would “take advice” on the calls for a probe, pointing to his decision as premier not only to push for cashless gaming but also for a ban on donations from pubs and clubs.
“I’ve made it very clear in relation to donations, banning donations, from not just pubs and clubs,” he said.
“Politicians look after people, not vested interests. Now, people will have opinions on public policy all the time, and I respect that,” he said.
“If I disagree with them, I’ll tell them so. Clearly, ClubsNSW disagree with me in relation to pokie reform, but I’m not here for ClubsNSW. I’m here to look after the people of our state.”
As premier, Perrottet has repeatedly called for broader donations reforms in NSW – including raising the prospect of publicly funded elections – and on Monday said he was “very uncomfortable” about the role political donations played in public life.
“On political interference, that’s why we need to reform donation laws,” he said.
“[I am] very uncomfortable about the way donations play a role in public life. In politics. It needs to be looked at. It needs to be looked at and [that is] exactly what I’ll do.”
During his interview, Dominello likened the influence of the clubs lobby in NSW to the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the US, something Perrottet and opposition leader, Chris Minns, both dismissed.
“No, I mean I haven’t [seen influence],” Minns said. “That’s not my experience.”
Labor has been criticised for refusing to back Perrottet’s reforms on cashless gaming, instead opting for a 500-machine trial to test the policy before agreeing to roll it out across the state.
It has seen him face a challenge in his ultra-marginal seat of Kogarah by Clubs whistleblower, Troy Stoltz.
On Monday, Minns said he wanted to see Dominello’s interview “in context” before commenting.
ClubsNSW has been approached for comment.
