Aussie review of internet gambling pays well

The Australian federal government’s review of internet gambling laws (see previous  reports) was in the news again over the weekend as Australian mainstream media reported that former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell is to be paid more than $50,000 for three months’ work on the project.

The Age reported that government tender documents confirm that the former Liberal leader will be paid $52,500 for the September to December job.

According to one government minister online gambling is a $1.6 billion a year business in Australia, with 60 percent of revenue going overseas to more than 2000 sites beyond the reach of Australian regulators and tax collectors.

The Age reports that O’Farrell resigned as premier in April 2014 after misleading the Independent Commission Against Corruption over receiving a A$3000 bottle of Penfolds Grange wine. He retired from the NSW Parliament in March.

In June, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop appointed him to the unsalaried position of deputy chairman of the Australia-India Council.

The council is chaired by Ashok Jacob, a former lieutenant of billionaire casino mogul James Packer and his late father, Kerry. He is a former director of Crown Ltd, which was awarded a licence to operate a “restricted gaming facility” at Barangaroo while O’Farrell was NSW premier.

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