The Sauce: NSW MPs cash in on freebies ahead of state election

State of Origin tickets, wine bottles, lavish lunches and theatre performances are just a few of the perks NSW MPs have been enjoying amid the countdown to the state election next year.

In a last hurrah before the March state election, our NSW pollies have been lapping up the freebies, accepting thousands of dollars’ worth of free tickets to racing, sporting and theatre events.

Former sports minister Stuart Ayres and Hospitality and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson boasted the longest freebies lists in their updated disclosures to state parliament, with each having benefited from their portfolios.

Anderson helpfully costed each of his freebies, which included two State of Origin tickets worth $1530 from the NRL, a $100 bottle of wine and jacket from Greyhound Racing NSW, two $1000 VIP tickets to The TAB Everest Directors Room from Tabcorp Holdings, a $250 ticket to a Randwick Racecourse luncheon from Racing NSW, four annual Australian Turf Club memberships valued at $523 from the ATC along with a complimentary $515 “joining fee” and four VIP Star The Championships tickets, also from the ATC.

The grand total of freebies declared by Anderson amounted to just over $5750 – and this does not include his Virgin Club and Qantas Chairman’s Lounge memberships.

Ayres – who did not cost his gifts – listed a bunch of lunches along with tickets to the Ashes from Venues NSW, The Championships from Racing NSW, the State of Origin from the NSWRL, and the Mardi Gras from Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Hospitality and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson

and former Sports minister Stuart Ayres disclosed thousands of dollars’ worth of freebies. Pictures: David Swift

Along with memberships to Virgin and Qantas airline lounges, Ayres – a well-known racehorse enthusiast – also listed the filly Dunara that he has a percentage share in with his partner, Senator Marise Payne, in his disclosures.

It was all about the musicals for Treasurer Matt Kean who accepted tickets to 9 to 5 (a Dolly Parton musical), The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Moulin Rouge.

Kean also went to a private screening of James Bond’s No Time To Die courtesy of the British Consulate General (of course) and joined many of his colleagues at the State of Origin thanks to Venues NSW.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello scored two tickets to the opening night of La Boheme and another two for Turandot from Opera Australia along with tickets to the Ashes from Australia Post an the British Deputy Consul-General Jonathan Cook.

Police Minister Paul Toole received a track season pass from the ATC as well as The Championships and Bathurst 1000 tickets.

Premier Dominic Perrottet disclosed a Taronga Zoo Gold Pass and tickets to the Sydney Kings and the musical Hamilton, while Opposition Leader Chris Minns declared tickets to a Bulldogs NRL game.

Premier DSominic Perrottet (middle) scored a Gold Pass to Taronga Zoo. Pictured with Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello, Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean and Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson. Picture: Joel Carrett

It was not just ministers claiming the freebies either, with Labor and crossbench MPs also enjoying the perks of the job.

Among the more bizarre disclosures included one by Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke whose sole entry in the “gifts” category was a “Shell petrol card”.

As for who gifted Cooke the card? “My parents,” she wrote.

Labor MP David Mehan felt it necessary to disclose three “fresh-cream doughnuts”, a box of Maltesers (dark), 10 mangoes ($30 value), two tins of Cadbury Roses chocolates, Lindt chocolates, a Bakers Delight Christmas cake, two boxes of Ferrero Rochers and four packets of chocolate biscuits.

David Mehan disclosed a pantry’s worth of sweet treats given to him as gifts. Picture: Sue Graham

Deputy government whip Lee Evans also disclosed a 10 per cent ownership of two broodmares.

BAD BEHAVIOUR

A Macquarie Street source has lifted the lid on some of the less-than-savoury behaviour of MPs and some of their staffers in securing in-demand tickets.

The source – who requested anonymity – said the resumption of events had triggered an “avalanche” of requests for freebies. And while some requests were polite, others were described as “demands”.

“There has been an avalanche of requests in the past few months leading up to (footy) finals weeks,” the source said, adding sarcastically: “Of course, all of the requests were made on behalf of their constituents.”

LABOR’S NEW RECRUITS

With Labor looking to have its best chance at winning government in NSW for more than a decade, it is no surprise member numbers are growing – but it is where they are coming from that is of interest.

Listed in the NSW Labor State Conference book were the latest new recruits, which included disgruntled Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, United Australia Party (UAP) members along with the odd Liberal.

Some were clearly embarrassed by their old party affiliations, with one ex-Greens member stressing how he “literally never turned up to an event”.

A number of new Labor recruits have crossed the floor from rival parties. Picture: Erik Anderson

“I’ve given them $10 in membership fees,” the new Labor member said.

Another described her membership of UAP as a “momentary lapse in judgment”, while another blamed youth for his membership of the Young Liberals.

Another former Greens member said she was a member so long ago she couldn’t remember exactly when: “I’ve added dates below but I’m really only guessing.”

Another new Labor member said she could not remember the name of her former party but said “it was only about euthanasia”.

Among the list of names of new Labor recruits was Matthew Stadtmiller, who listed his previous party as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. Stadtmiller has been a Shooters candidate several times, including standing for the seats of Cootamundra and Eden-Monaro.