Australia’s Labor government has landed in hot water after independent MPs expressed concerns that the latest gambling ads reforms are favouring gambling companies.
Reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, sources close to the matter have said that Communications Minister Michelle Rowland wants to limit gambling ads on TV to two per hour until 10 pm, and ban them one hour before and after live sporting events.
Talks to also introduce a blanket ban on betting ads on social media and digital communication channels are also reportedly being discussed.
Yet to be brought forward to cabinet and most likely still not in their final form, the proposals are already amassing stern looks by independent political figures and reformists who want a tougher stance against ads, the Herald wrote.
For comparison, the late Labor MP Peta Murphy requested a ban on all forms of gambling advertising on TV, radio, newspapers and online platforms back when she was chairing a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.
David Pocock – an independent senator – pitted current LAbor plans against those of Murphy and painted them as an unsatisfactory continuation of what she started.
“There is support in the parliament for the government to implement the Murphy review recommendations in full rather than this watered-down policy aimed at appeasing the gambling industry,” the Herald reported Pocock as saying.
“An overwhelming majority of Australians want to see strong action to address the enormous harm gambling causes. The Albanese government needs to find the courage to stand up to gambling companies and do what’s right for our community rather than caving again to pressure from vested interests.”
Additional comments were also made by independent MP Kate Chaney, who said: “People who are experiencing problems with gambling find it impossible to escape ads.
“There are ads everywhere you look. With ads still appearing on TV, on radio, in arenas and on jerseys, gambling will remain embedded in sport.
“The government has an opportunity to lead and leave a legacy, by making ads for online gambling history, like we did with tobacco decades ago. Instead, it is kowtowing to the power of the media companies, sports codes and gambling companies who are all profiting from people’s misery.”
Due to a Freedom of Information request, the Herald revealed that representatives of Rowland’s office but not herself personally have had 66 meetings in six months to discuss gambling reforms with relevant shareholders, including gambling companies.
Also adding on the criticism, independent MP Zoe Daniel commented: “How many more young and impressionable sports fans are going to have their lives ruined before the government gets the message?”
“Rather than responding to the Murphy report, Michelle Rowland is giving the gambling giants pretty much what they want – the appearance of action when all the proposed measures would do is to enable them to continue to normalise the relationship between gambling and sport and wreck the lives of thousands more mainly young people.
“She is conspiring with the sector to try to enable them to continue grooming young people, many of whom will end up in serious financial trouble and with severe mental health problems.”
An official announcement about the planned gambling ad reforms is expected to come out within weeks.
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