The Federal Government’s legislation to restrict sports gambling ads will be delayed in the Senate for an eight-week inquiry. Photo: Region.
Labor’s proposed gambling reform legislation has been introduced to the House of Representatives, more than three years after its own report recommended a full ban on gambling ads.
The legislation doesn’t go nearly that far and was met by an immediate attempt to suspend standing orders to denounce the bill.
While that didn’t get up, an eight-week Senate inquiry into the legislation in the Upper House has been secured.
The Federal Government has yet to confirm support for the legislation from either the Coalition or the Greens, both of which will be needed for it to pass the Senate.
The bill seeks to place restrictions on gambling advertising during live sports coverage and on social media for under-18s.
It restricts gambling ads on daytime and early-evening television until 8:30 pm and bans radio advertising during school pick-up and drop-off hours.
Former Labor MP Peta Murphy, who died of cancer in 2023, chaired a committee that found bipartisan consensus to tackle gambling advertising.
Her 169-page report made 31 recommendations, including a four-phase approach over three years to ban gambling advertisements completely on TV, as well as addressing social media and video platforms.
A number of Labor’s own Caucus are publicly saying the legislation has not yet gone far enough.
Presenting the bill to parliament, Communications Minister Anika Wells described the reforms the government is now proposing as “meaningful and impactful”, noting that it also prevents celebrities and former athletes from promoting gambling on podcasts and social media.
“Gambling advertising restrictions have not kept pace with community expectations,” she said.
“People are seeing too many ads, particularly during children and family programs and live sport events.
“For Australians who don’t want to participate in gambling or see gambling ads, they have become inescapable and constant.
“The Albanese Government wants Aussie kids to be able to participate in sport, whether that’s cheering on their team, knowing the stats of their favourite player, or having a kick down at their local sporting field.
“And we want them to be able to do this without being bombarded with a gambling promotion.”
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a longtime anti-gambling campaigner, moved to pause regular proceedings in the House to condemn what he described as the inadequacy of the bill.
“This parliament is a fellow traveller with the gambling companies, the media companies and the sporting codes who are like jackals feeding on the carcass of gambling addicts,” he said.
“This is intolerable, Deputy Speaker. I call on the government to put aside that rubbish bill that was tabled today.”
Labor immediately shut down Mr Wilkie’s motion.
Earlier, fellow independent Kate Chaney said the government had “strayed too far” from its own inquiry.
“I think it does have the potential to be improved there,” she said.
“I think it’s an opportunity for the government to make it a whole lot better than it is and actually use the parliamentary process to make the laws better.”
That process includes a Senate inquiry that the Greens have forced into the legislation.
Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young described the legislation as “severely undercooked” and said it does not sufficiently address the problem.
“In its present form, it has failed children, failed families, and failed the broader community, while protecting the interests of big gambling companies,” she said.
“The Greens ensured this bill was referred to a Senate Inquiry so it receives the proper scrutiny and consultation needed to deliver the best possible outcomes for Australians.
“This is not the time for half measures or band-aid solutions. We need comprehensive, long-term reforms that address the root causes of harm and deliver meaningful, lasting change.
“Delaying ads until after 8:30 pm does nothing to protect children or families; it simply safeguards the profits of the gambling industry.
“The government has failed to tackle the targeted, individualised online gambling and inducements that plague our online spaces.
“These insidious forms of manipulation must be stopped at all costs.
“This legislation must be brought into line with the Murphy Report. We will continue to push for a complete ban on gambling advertising, because the harms of gambling extend across the entire community.”
The Federal Opposition is supporting the scrutiny, but isn’t revealing the extent of its support for the bill.
Liberal MP Andrew Wallace (a former Speaker of the House), however, agreed the legislation doesn’t go far enough.
“There are certainly some sensible changes that I want to work with all Members of Parliament to try to get the best outcome for Australians,” he said.
“Because I think the vast majority of Australians want to see gambling advertising reform. They want to see gambling reform.
“They’re screaming out for it. We are the worst gamblers in the world.”
Former opposition leader Peter Dutton had campaigned on stronger bans than the government is now proposing.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
