But it’s another deal in another down under state that has Betfair making Aussie headlines. Back in August 2010, Tasmania’s governing Labor Party (ALP) announced a deal that would reduce Betfair’s state taxes from approx. $8m to $2m. Recently published info by the Australian Electoral Commission reveals that Betfair donated almost $11k to Labor in 2010 (an election year). This might have gone unnoticed, as donations under $11k are not legally required to be identified, but a bank charge applied to the donation pushed it over the limit by $20, compelling the ALP to make it public. Bloody bankers….
ALP State Secretary John Dowling denies that this donation played a role in the tax deal negotiations. “Those negotiations were concluded prior to the election and announced and some months later the ALP received a small donation from Betfair.” Betfair claims it donated a similar amount to the opposition Liberal party, but this appeared to be news to Liberal leader Will Hodgman, who said “Not to my knowledge.”