Australian politicians were given approximately AU$245,000 worth of match tickets over a 21-month period by the country's leading sporting organisations as part of an effort to lobby against a proposed ban on online gambling advertising, according to calculations based on official government documents.

The gifts, recorded in the parliamentary gift register, came during a critical period when a government-commissioned report had recommended a total ban on such advertising.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received about AU$29,000 worth of tickets, mostly to grand finals and matches featuring his National Rugby League (NRL) home team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, according to an exclusive report by Reuters.

Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative opposition coalition, declared AU$21,350 in ticket gifts during the same timeframe,........

© International Business Times