Communications Minister Anika Wells is facing mounting criticism from advocates and crossbench politicians after reportedly telling a former gambling addict to direct her lobbying efforts towards the gambling industry rather than the government. The remarks, made during an August 2025 meeting, have sparked outrage among those campaigning for stronger gambling reform, with critics describing them as emblematic of a broader failure of leadership.
The controversy centres on Kate Seselja, a lived-experience advocate who previously struggled with a severe pokies addiction that nearly led her to take her own life. Ms Seselja recounted that during the meeting, Minister Wells suggested it was not her who needed convincing about reform, but rather wagering companies, television networks and sporting organisations that profit from gambling. “I was flabbergasted,” Ms Seselja said, adding that being encouraged to approach such entities herself was “horrific” and demonstrated a deep disconnect from the realities of gambling harm. She said the suggestion eroded her faith in the political system.
Her account was supported by Anna Bardsley of the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who also attended the meeting. While the minister’s office did not deny the exchange, it emphasised that Ms Wells had met with the advocates to hear their experiences. A spokesperson pointed to existing government measures, including the BetStop self-exclusion register, a ban on credit cards for online gambling, and updated warning messages in advertisements, insisting the government takes its responsibility to protect vulnerable Australians seriously.
However, the response has done little to quell criticism. Independent MP Kate Chaney condemned the minister’s comments as a betrayal, stating they were “shocking but unfortunately not surprising”. She argued that asking someone who has endured addiction and spent years advocating for reform to lobby the gambling industry themselves represents “a profound failure of leadership”.
Ms Seselja also described a subsequent meeting in March where staff from the minister’s office encouraged her to continue pushing for reform. She said the interaction left her distressed, recalling that she “broke down” and told a staffer that if the government would not act, it should resource advocacy groups like GHLEE to do so. “People are dying and no one is stopping the carnage,” she said.
Other crossbenchers echoed these concerns. Independent senator David Pocock described the account as deeply troubling, while independent MP Monique Ryan criticised the government for failing to stand up to powerful industry interests. Meanwhile, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello labelled the situation “a complete failure of government”, expressing disbelief that a major gambling harm report released nearly 1000 days ago had yet to receive a formal response.
That report, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy and delivered in June 2023, recommended sweeping reforms including a phased ban on gambling advertising, tighter restrictions on inducements, and the creation of a national harm-reduction framework. The government’s perceived inaction on these recommendations has become a focal point for critics, who argue that meaningful reform continues to be delayed despite growing evidence of harm.
Overall, the incident has intensified scrutiny on the government’s approach to gambling regulation, highlighting tensions between advocacy groups, policymakers and industry stakeholders, and raising broader questions about accountability and political will in addressing gambling-related harm.