Health experts and crossbench MPs have criticised the federal government’s consultation process on proposed gambling advertising reforms, describing it as rushed, opaque and inadequate. The draft laws, released in May by Communications Minister Anika Wells, are expected to be introduced to parliament within the fortnight, but they have already drawn strong criticism for falling well short of the recommendations made by the landmark Murphy inquiry into gambling harm.
Curtin University’s Professor Mike Daube said harm reduction experts were given only three days’ notice and a 45-minute Zoom briefing to examine the proposed legislation. He contrasted this with the government’s three-year delay in responding to the Murphy report, saying the process “just looks like a charade”. Deakin University public health professor Samantha Thomas also criticised the consultation, arguing it had been marked by poor transparency and left major questions unanswered. She said the government owed Australians an explanation for why it had moved so far from the advice of independent experts, public health organisations and people with lived experience.
The proposed reforms would not introduce the comprehensive gambling advertising ban recommended by the Murphy inquiry. Instead, gambling ads would still be allowed during half-time breaks and weather delays in sports broadcasts after 8:30pm. Horse, harness and greyhound racing would also be excluded from the definition of a sporting event, creating what critics say are major loopholes.
A spokeswoman for Anika Wells defended the process, saying the department had held targeted consultations with gambling harm reduction advocates and state and territory representatives. She also said no dedicated briefing session had been provided to gambling companies.
The bill is expected to pass the Labor-controlled House of Representatives, but its path through the Senate is uncertain. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she would push for the legislation to be sent to a Senate committee inquiry, arguing the proposed reforms “fall well short”. The Coalition has not confirmed whether it will support the bill, with Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson saying the opposition has concerns and is still working through the detail.
Independent MP Kate Chaney, who served on the committee behind the Murphy inquiry, was sharply critical of the draft legislation. She said it was “full of holes” and amounted to a “fake compromise” designed to satisfy the gambling industry rather than properly address gambling harm. Ms Chaney also accused the government of trying to minimise public attention on the reforms, pointing to the timing of announcements around the federal budget lock-up and the Thursday before the Easter long weekend.
“The government is clearly not proud of this reform package … they've timed the release of announcements connected to this package for minimal possible exposure,” Ms Chaney said.
Ms Chaney said she would use “every power” available to push for proper parliamentary scrutiny once the bill is introduced. “I really challenge the government to use the parliamentary process in both houses to make this bill better,” she said.
The reforms are currently scheduled to begin from January 2027.