Adrian Portelli Denies Abandoning Australia Following Dubai Move

Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli has relocated his family to Dubai, dismissing claims that he fled the country and instead pointing to his ongoing local businesses, substantial investments, and family ties, according to regional reporting. The move follows recent regulatory pressure on his subscriber-based lottery business, LMCT+, alongside his public criticism of Australian leadership and living standards. Portelli, widely known from his television appearances on the reality series The Block, confirmed his permanent move in a series of social media statements. He stated that the relocation had been in development for three years. “I’ve been planning this move for three years and lodged my plans with the ATO the entire time,” Portelli said on social media, as cited by the Daily Mail.

“Australia is genuinely finished under its current control and leadership in the form of the government and media. It’s a big brainwashing circus,”

Regulatory Pressures and LMCT+ Reforms

The relocation arrives weeks after proposed federal gambling reforms targeted subscription-based prize models. Legislation released by policymakers in June indicated that lotteries operating under the guise of reward programs could become illegal.

The proposed rules directly impact businesses like LMCT+, which offers luxury cars, houses, and high-value cash prizes through frequent subscriber draws. While trade loyalty programs remain legal, the legislation aims to restrict operators using continuous membership fees to run unregulated lotteries. Despite these regulatory hurdles, Portelli maintains that his commercial footprint in Australia remains active.

Investments and Family Security

According to reporting shared via Instagram by The Yarn, Portelli pushed back against assertions that he has abandoned Australia, noting that walking away is impossible when his friends, employees, property, cars, and investments stay anchored domestically.

Portelli highlighted financial contributions to the Australian system, estimating his personal tax payments at approximately $100 million. He also cited safety concerns as a factor in his family’s relocation, recounting an incident where his partner and children encountered a security threat at a shopping centre. Furthermore, Portelli contrasted living expenses abroad with domestic costs, noting on social media that he purchased an Australian scotch steak in Dubai for roughly $20, questioning grocery pricing structures back home.

While residing in the United Arab Emirates provides a personal income tax exemption, the Daily Mail notes that Australian tax residents remain subject to domestic tax obligations depending on their residency status. Meanwhile, Portelli continues to expand local ventures, including the recent opening of a discount petrol station in the north-east of Melbourne, with plans for additional petrol stations and supermarkets.