New Australian of the Year award betting ban as AFP and ACIC investigate betting plunge

Betting on the Australian of the Year awards has been banned, as the Australian Federal Police investigate how a betting plunge on winner Grace Tame occurred.

Exclusive: Betting on the Australian of the Year awards has been banned, effective immediately, after suspicions someone involved in last year’s awards profited from insider information and caused a betting plunge on winner Grace Tame.

The NT Licensing Commission agreed last week to stop online betting agencies, which are registered in the Northern Territory, from accepting bets on the Australian of the Year and associated awards.

The move came after Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Ben Morton, wrote to the NT Government asking for the awards to be removed from betting markets, saying allowing betting to continue could taint the reputation of the highly-prestigious awards.

News Corp revealed last year that concerns had been raised about the integrity of the betting markets after a betting plunge on the eventual winner, Grace Tame.

Ms Tame, a Tasmanian sexual abuse survivor and advocate, went from an outside chance to the punters’ favourite in December, in the lead-up to the announcement of the award winners on the night before Australia Day in January.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Ben Morton. Picture: Kym Smith

The change was so dramatic, it prompted questions to be asked, and concerns were raised her name had been leaked by someone connected to the broadcast of the awards.

The matter was referred to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on January 25, and then to the Australian Federal Police for investigation. Ms Tame did not know she was the winner and there is no suggestion she is in any way connected to the leak.

Around 180 people knew in December last year who the winners were, including the small number of staff employed at the National Australia Day Council, the government-owned non-profit organisation that runs the awards each year, and a group of people involved in the TV broadcast of the ceremony. All were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Grace Tame speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: Getty

Mr Morton wrote to Northern Territory Attorney-General Selina Uibo in August asking her to remove the Australian of the Year awards from the list of declared events administered by Licensing NT.

“The Australian Federal Police recently informed me they are investigating a suspected abuse of public office, or the use of insider information, to bet on nominees for the Awards,’’ Mr Morton wrote.

“While the investigation is ongoing the AFP considers the ability to bet on the awards poses a risk to the integrity and reputation of the Awards and has the potential to erode confidence in the NADC.

“While betting on the Awards remains on the market it is possible that the unauthorised disclosure of information could occur in advance of an official announcement being made and give rise to the risk that may taint perception of the process and the outcome of the Awards.’’

Last week, Ms Uibo wrote back to Mr Morton, advising him that she had written to the Commissioner of Licensing requesting it consider removing the awards from the list of events on which wagering is authorised. The Commissioner then withdrew the awards from the betting market.

Professor Brendan Murphy was in contention alongside Ms Tame.

Shane Fitzimmons was also in the running for the top award.

Ms Tame, a fierce advocate for sexual abuse survivors and women’s rights, has gained a strong profile since being named Australian of the Year. But at the time she was nominated a year ago, most betting money had gone to two other high-profile nominees, former Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy and former NSW Fire Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who had shot to national prominence during the COVID-19 crisis and that summer’s bushfire emergency.

Leading betting agency Sportsbet had opened the market for Ms Tame at $6, but by December 30, she was the favourite at $1.30. On January 25 her odds were $1.50.

Prof Murphy had opened favourite at $1.50, but drifted to $10 by January 21, although his odds tightened late in January and he was $8 by January 25.

Mr Fitzsimmons opened second favourite at $2.25, and drifted to $7.50 by late December, and $2.50 by January 25.