Lobbyist's Parliament House break room meetings draw senator's ire

A lobbyist for the sports betting industry is frequently using Parliament House break rooms for private meetings, drawing criticism from an independent senator.

Kai Cantwell, head of Responsible Wagering Australia, has been observed using the parliamentary break rooms for his Zoom calls. Independent ACT senator David Pocock has repeatedly seen Cantwell in these spaces, which are intended for parliamentary staff to relax and eat.

"He's forever setting up shop in the break rooms, which are meant to be for staff to actually go and have a lunch break and use a microwave," Senator Pocock stated. "He's in there doing Zoom calls."

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He's forever setting up shop in the break rooms, which are meant to be for staff to actually go and have a lunch break and use a microwave. He's in there doing Zoom calls.

Cantwell's presence in these private staff areas has led to complaints from Senator Pocock's office to the Usher of the Black Rod, the senior administrative officer of the Senate. However, by the time security arrives, Cantwell has already left.

Cantwell is a former senior ministerial adviser during the Morrison government and now represents sports betting companies. This career shift exemplifies the "revolving door" phenomenon in Canberra, where individuals move between government roles and lobbying positions, leveraging their connections and experience to influence policy. Independent MP Monique Ryan questioned the timing of Cantwell's transition, asking, "You have to wonder, at what point did he start to have conversations with the gambling industry about taking up that role?"

Further complicating transparency, Cantwell's name does not appear on the public lobbyists register, despite his access to Parliament House. Federal lobbying regulations allow for such omissions, making it difficult for ordinary Australians to track the full scale of lobbying activities.

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You have to wonder, at what point did he start to have conversations with the gambling industry about taking up that role?