Sector slams lack of action on online gambling reform

Posted on 26 Nov 2024

By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia

Advocates of responsible gambling have attacked the federal government’s plans to defer making a decision on reform to the nation's online gambling advertising laws until next year.

The Albanese government is attempting to ram multiple pieces of legislation through the Senate in the final sitting week of Parliament, but changes to gambling laws are no longer on the agenda.

This is despite a promise only last week by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to publicly finalise Canberra’s response to the Murphy Report into online gambling and its impact on those experiencing gambling harm, before the end of the year.

Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO Martin Thomas said he was bitterly disappointed the government appeared to be on track to further delay revealing its approach to online gambling until the new year.

“It beggars belief that a report by a Labor MP, with the unanimous support of all the political parties on the committee, could be delivered almost 18 months ago now and neither the government or the opposition has made any official response to its recommendations,” said Thomas.

“The only reason this public will for action is being ignored is because of the closed-door lobbying of big-gambling and its allies.”

Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO Martin Thomas.

The report ‘You win some, you lose more’ by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs made 31 recommendations aimed at applying a “public health lens” to online gambling to reduce harm to Australians, including:

development and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy on reducing harm from online gambling backed by national regulation

appointment of an online gambling ombudsman

introduction of a harm reduction levy on providers of online wagering services

a public education campaign

more independent research and improved data collection.

Thomas said polling had revealed that more than 70% of Australians want the government to ban gambling ads.

“The only reason this public will for action is being ignored is because of the closed-door lobbying of Big-Gambling and its allies,” said Thomas.

“Big Gambling has deep pockets and uses lobbyists, political donations and hospitality to encourage – even threaten – our political leaders not to take action on gambling reform – despite the wishes of Australians.”

Thomas said the federal government and the opposition should make a strong public commitment to the recommendations of the Murphy Report as a matter of urgency.

“The Alliance believes that if politicians don’t lead on this issue, there will be a backlash at the polls at the next federal election.”

Listen to more from Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO Martin Thomas on the Community Advocate podcast.

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