Tasmanian ministers access $45,000 in free NBL and AFL tickets in a year
Premier Jeremy Rockliff at a JackJumpers home game on November 23. (Facebook: Jeremy Rockliff)
In short:
In its deal with the Tasmania JackJumpers NBL team, the Tasmanian government is given access to 20 tickets and 10 corporate hospitality packages per home game.
Annual disclosures show ministers accessed the tickets regularly — including for six consecutive matches — totalling more than $21,000 worth of free tickets for 12 months.
What's next?
An integrity expert believes the inclusion of free tickets in a government sponsorship agreement is something that should be avoided.
Tasmanian government ministers have accessed more than $21,000 worth of free tickets to Tasmania JackJumpers games in the past 12 months, available as part of an agreement with the basketball club.
The details were included in parliament's annual gifts register, which also showed ministers had received more than $24,000 in function and match tickets from the Hawthorn Football Club for games in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian government provides the JackJumpers with $2 million per year as part of a two-year agreement, and Hawthorn with about $4.5 million per year for four annual matches.
The JackJumpers defeated Melbourne United to win the 2024 NBL finals series. (AAP: James Ross)
The original agreement with the JackJumpers gives the government access to 20 general admission tickets and up to 10 corporate hospitality packages per home game.
The register shows various ministers received free corporate box tickets for six consecutive matches covering the end of last season and start of this season, accessing 36 tickets valued at about $365 each.
Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line also gifted Transport Minister Kerry Vincent two tickets for the first game valued at $480 each; he is one of TT-Line's two shareholder ministers, and the state-owned TT-Line sponsors the JackJumpers.
An integrity expert believes the inclusion of free tickets in a government sponsorship agreement is something that should be avoided. (Facebook: Tasmania JackJumpers)
Ministers who accessed free corporate tickets in the 12 months include Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Sport Minister Nick Duigan, along with Roger Jaensch, Jo Palmer, Jane Howlett and Felix Ellis.
It was an increase on the previous 12 months, when ministers accessed $15,406 in free JackJumpers tickets.
Centre for Public Integrity director Geoffrey Watson SC said the ability of ministers to access free tickets in this way was "really odd".
"I've never heard of it before," he said.
"I don't like the idea, I think the allocation of funding to sporting clubs should be able to stand or fall on its own."
Free tickets used to 'promote Tasmania'
The government previously provided $15 million for the construction of a high-performance centre for the JackJumpers, and in 2022 a $250,000 undisclosed election promise resulted in sustained political scrutiny over the potential for conflicts of interest.
In February, the JackJumpers were sold to Queensland-based asset manager Altor Capital.
Tasmanian government ministers have accessed more than $21,000 worth of free tickets to Tasmania JackJumpers games in the past 12 months. (Facebook: Tasmania JackJumpers)
A government spokesperson said the attendances at the matches and other events served a purpose.
"The premier and ministers attend such events to promote Tasmania to a wide range of stakeholders and have discussions accordingly,"the spokesperson said.
Government ministers were not the only ones in receipt of free JackJumpers tickets.
Labor leader Josh Willie received three courtside tickets from the club and two corporate tickets from Tassal, while Labor upper house MLC Luke Edmunds also received two corporate tickets from the JackJumpers.
Range of other tickets also gifted
In January, the government announced the extension of its deal with Hawthorn until the end of the 2027 season, at a cost of $9.1 million.
The gifts register shows that four ministers — including Mr Rockliff — were gifted tickets to the Hawthorn president's function at York Park in Launceston for the March 29 match against the GWS Giants.
Loading...The ministers disclosed 17 gifted tickets for the function, which Hawthorn describes as offering "gourmet food, drinks, entertainment, and networking with club officials" with "reserved seating and exclusive access".
They also received a combined 27 free tickets for two presidents' functions in June.
It was among a range of tickets declared by ministers for the 12 months to November.
Consultancy firm PinPoint Tasmania provided 21 VIP tickets to ministers for the Taste of Summer festival, valued at $95 each; the event received $7.7 million in government funding through to 2026.
Mr Rockliff declared five VIP tickets to Party in the Paddock, valued at $473, as a gift from event production company Vibestown.
Mr Duigan — the sports minister — received 10 corporate tickets to the V8 Supercars at Symmons Plains, totalling $6,250 in tickets.
Tabcorp gifted Mr Rockliff a $1,400 ticket to the TAB Everest raceday in Sydney on October 18.
Labor leader Josh Willie and Labor upper house MLC Luke Edmunds also received tickets from the JackJumpers. (Facebook: Tasmania JackJumpers)
When asked if Mr Rockliff paid for flights, a government spokesperson responded that the trip to Sydney included official business.
"The premier's official trip to Sydney included important government business and meetings, including with Minister for Industry and Innovation, Tim Ayres, a tour of Allianz Stadium, Everest Day 2025, and a briefing and site visit about the highly successful and transformative Barangaroo development," the spokesperson said.
Tabcorp's chief executive officer is Gillon McLachlan, who signed the deal for Tasmania to enter the AFL when he was chief executive officer of the AFL.