Est. 2026 · Sydney, Australia
FDSC — Fair Dinkum
Sports Club.
A community-run sports club for politicians, journalists, staffers and citizens — with public rules and no lobbyist influence.
When a sitting parliamentarian gets pushed out of a sports club for calling out lobbyist influence, something is off.
The Fair Dinkum Sports Club is a community-run sports club for parliament: built on public rules, fair play, and no backroom influence.
If sport can build relationships across party lines, it should be governed with the same integrity we expect in public life.
- Federal reps
- 0/227
- State reps
- 0/610
- Local reps
- 0/~6,000
- Staffers & journalists
- 0/thousands
- Concerned citizens
- 0/millions
The Road Ahead
Timeline to kick-off
We, the people, have heard the call. Before our representatives can pick up their hockey sticks, we need to design the rules, organise the orange slices and procure some wickets. Let's get to work.
2 May 2026
Foundation Day
Design the Rules
Create fair and transparent club guidelines
Organise the Game
Get the equipment, referees and teams
Admit the founding members
Recruit fair-go politicians to be FDSC's founding members
June 2026
Politicians on the Pitch
First Match
Kick off
Drills
Post-game electrolytes, collagen, whatever supplements the paragons of political virtue and good games may need to get through the day
Regular Play
Weekly sporting activities
5 September 2026
Co-op Review
Review Progress
Assess first 3 months of operation
Member Feedback
Gather input and suggestions
More perfect sports union
Keep these rules under revision so we can sustain a fair-go sports league
How We Play
The rules of the
Fair Dinkum Sports Club
This is a project in representative governance as much as it is one in coordinating a sports league. The rules are made and the work is done by the people, for the people.
Eligibility criteria
MPs, staffers, journalists and a rotating cast of community members only.
To play in this league, you must be an elected representative in a political office, a staffer or a journalist who covers politics or an invited community member. Lobbyists and influencers will need to find another game to play. Also, Federal MPs must have signed up to the Parliamentary Pass Register.
Sponsorship capped at $50/year
No naming rights, no exclusive deals. Cashflow is public. Surplus donated to charity.
Sure, oranges come at a cost. We'll gratefully accept sponsorship from sports-respecting Aussies who want to see a fair go, but we'll cap it at $50/year to keep things on the level. No naming rights, no exclusive deals, just a few extra sets of wickets and some decent quality navals and your name on this page. The cashflow is public, and any excess above administration needs will be donated to the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and the ASF's Children's Sport Participation Fund.
No lurkers
Volunteers help run it. No spectators, no livestreams, no prediction markets.
Community volunteers might be called upon to provide some team members or referees, doll out the band-aids and tally the scores, but they won't be welcome to bring friends, live-stream the leagues or run a prediction market on the back of members doing their best to keep the ball in play. This league is for those whose daily grind is democracy. Get in touch if you want to get involved as a supporter, governing-body member (we're still deciding what this should be) or have another idea for how you might contribute.
Small biz supporters
Local suppliers only. Rotated regularly so nothing gets cosy.
Small businesses wanting to provide arm bands, knee pads or refreshments who can swear on their favourite child that they do not have a government relations adviser on the payroll, are welcome to support this league with the equipment that we use (either on loan or outright) and hospitality. They can also pitch to provide the merch we use in this project. We'll keep suppliers on rotation so nothing gets too cosy and disclose (with gratitude) that support has been received.
Lobbyist leagues and journo jousts
Challenge days: parliamentarians vs lobbyists vs journalists. Popcorn markets only.
To encourage the adoption of the Parliamentary Pass Register, we'll organise challenge days. Parliamentarians vs the Lobbyists (who have been logged in the register) and the journalists that cover them. Prediction markets backed only by packets of popcorn (or similar commercial value) will be permitted at these challenge days. This exception is designed to contrast the influence machine of the top-down systems, against this community-led sports league. And it might be fun in the style of an old-school carnival.
The rules are under regular review
A community committee governs the schedule, memberships and these rules.
A committee of community representatives will keep the schedule and manage the memberships. They will also develop these rules as our initiative develops this league.
Support the Club
Current sponsorships.
Opening soon.
$50/year · No naming rights · Just a fair go
Join Up
Get involved.
Whether you're eligible to play or just want to see this happen — we'd love to hear from you.