Arbib was subsequently appointed a senior executive with James Packer's private investment company, Consolidated Press Holdings.

When there were moves to remove penalty rates, he negotiated on behalf of the part-time workers and signed up members to the Liquor Trades Union.

[11] Arbib was named in the ABC television program Four Corners in relation to political donations to the NSW Labor Party.

[12] Arbib was preselected for the number one position of Labor's New South Wales Senate ticket and won a seat at the 2007 federal election.

[16] On 24 June 2010, Arbib used his power as leader of the NSW right faction to shore up numbers to depose Kevin Rudd, then in his first term as prime minister, in favour of Julia Gillard.

[19] The United States diplomatic cables leaks revealed that Mark Arbib was in regular contact with staff at the US embassy in Canberra[20] and provided them with inside information and commentary on the workings of the government and the Labor Party.

[21][22][23] Arbib strongly denied having a special relationship with the United States and was highly critical of Fairfax's reporting of the cables which he claims contained a number of serious factual errors.

[27] In June 2012, Arbib became director of strategy and business development at Consolidated Press Holdings, the private investment company of James Packer.

[32] Arbib stepped down from Sydney FC in April 2016 to take up a new role as President of Athletics Australia after having been unanimously appointed to the position by his fellow directors.

[33] In his role as president, Arbib aimed to increase the reach and exposure of Athletics, including by making the sport more attractive to broadcasters.

[34] Arbib is also a board member of the professional Rugby League Team the South Sydney Rabbitohs, winners of the 2014 Premiership.