The Albanese Government’s proposed gambling advertising reforms have been criticised by key crossbench MPs and anti-gambling campaigners, who argue the draft laws fall well short of protecting children from exposure to sports wagering promotion.
A new exposure draft released by the Labor Government would limit gambling advertisements to three per hour, while still allowing them to be broadcast after 8.30pm. Radio gambling ads would be banned around school pick-up and drop-off times, and online ads would be blocked for users under 18. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the measures were intended to reduce the saturation of gambling advertising and minimise children’s exposure.
However, critics say the draft does not properly implement the recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which called for a complete ban on gambling advertising. The reforms have been attacked by crossbench MPs, anti-gambling advocates and members of the Coalition, who argue they leave major loopholes for sports wagering promotion, particularly during live sport.
Independent MP Kate Chaney was sharply critical of the proposal, saying the details suggested the laws would be “full of loopholes, ambiguity and ministerial discretion”. She argued that the evidence pointed to the reforms doing “exactly what the gambling industry wants”. Chaney also said the structure of the proposed laws appeared weaker than the gambling advertising policy put forward by the Liberals under Peter Dutton in the previous parliament, highlighting her concern that Labor’s approach does not meet the scale of the problem.
Independent senator David Pocock also condemned the draft laws, describing the government’s gambling reforms as “essentially smoke and mirrors when it comes to sport”. He said the legislation addressed only three of the Murphy report’s 31 recommendations and warned that children would still be exposed to gambling advertising during live sporting matches after 8.30pm, as well as during half-time and unscheduled breaks. Pocock is pushing for the legislation to be referred to a parliamentary inquiry.
Prominent anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello said the proposed reforms would not separate sport from wagering and would fail to protect children. He rejected the assumption that children would not be watching sport after 8.30pm, particularly during weekend matches. Costello compared the logic to allowing cigarette advertisements at half-time on the basis that children should already be in bed, arguing that gambling advertising “grooms” children and contributes to serious harm and addiction.
The Coalition also criticised aspects of the draft. Liberal senator Sarah Henderson accused Labor of delaying and deflecting on gambling advertising reform, while noting the Coalition was still reviewing the legislation in detail.
The government says the legislation, which it wants implemented by next year, will enshrine existing restrictions on sports wagering advertising into law. It has also previously announced that celebrities and athletes would be banned from gambling ads. However, industry sources said the exposure draft still lacked key detail, with gambling companies seeking clarity on how some measures would operate.
Overall, the article presents the draft laws as a compromise that has satisfied neither gambling reform advocates nor key crossbench MPs, with Kate Chaney among those warning that the reforms may favour industry interests over stronger protections for children.