‘Frustrated’ by slow pace of gambling ads reform, Labor caucus wants Wells to act | Gambling
There is growing frustration over the delay in gambling advertising reforms at the government meeting, according to a group of Labor MPs who say they want Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells to take action.
Documents recently released under freedom of information laws revealing details of Wells’ meetings with major TV broadcasters over betting restrictions show his department acknowledged the popularity of the advertising ban but was concerned about what it might mean for sports rules and media companies.
As nearly a dozen Labor MPs debate gambling reform, some members say the group has experienced a “fundamental increase” in support.
Labor MPs who support the advertising ban claim they have wanted to meet with Wells for several months. Another MP said some felt they were not being listened to.
“It’s fair to say that frustration is growing among the people I’ve spoken to, and that frustration is probably because they haven’t had the opportunity to have these conversations,” a Labor MP said.
“This is not going to go away. We’re not the only ones doing this; there are other MPs from outside the party who are doing this and we need to do something about it.”
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There is widespread support across parliament for gambling reform. Former opposition leader Peter Dutton has pledged to ban gambling advertising for an hour before and after live sports broadcasts, while the Greens and independent MPs including Andrew Wilkie, Kate Chaney and David Pocock have pressed for reform.
The government is under pressure to respond to a committee report chaired by former Labor MP Peta Murphy in June 2023, which called for a phased ban on all online gambling advertising, among more than 30 other recommendations.
Albanese defended the delay in responding to the Murphy review, claiming his government had reformed gambling more than “any reform in history”. The media company expressed concerns about the impact on its revenues, while promising to “work on” any remaining issues.
A Labor MP said his colleagues thought 2026 was the year they needed to act on Murphy’s report, and a growing number of people wanted the issue resolved.
Wells’ office has been contacted for comment. A government spokesman cited the introduction of Betstop, a national self-exclusion register for licensed gambling services, and a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling as examples of Labor action on problem gambling.
“The Albanian government takes seriously our responsibility to protect Australians, especially children and young people, from the harms of online gambling,” the spokesman said.
“We will continue to work to protect people from the harms of gambling in Australia. That’s why we continue to engage with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting rules as we seek to further minimize the harms of gambling.”
Labor MP Jerome Laxale wrote on social media last week that gambling reform was “unfinished business for this government”, adding: “We owe it to the communities affected every day by the harm of gambling to keep this issue on the national agenda and deliver real change.”
Shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh accused the government of “dragging the chain” since receiving the Murphy report nearly 1,000 days ago.
“The harms of gambling on individuals and their families are wide and widespread, from problems in relationships, the family home, work or study to people’s physical and mental health,” McIntosh said. “How long will the Albanian Labor government sit on this report and do nothing while so many Australians suffer?”
Documents published by the communications department regarding freedom of information statement log Last month it detailed that “the government is holding confidential consultations on the betting advertising reform model … with key stakeholders, including company WIN, Foxtel and Nine Entertainment, in late 2024”.
A briefing note prepared by the department acknowledged that “claims about advertising reform are controversial and stakeholders have different views.” It notes that the gambling advertising ban “has widespread support from the public, harm reduction advocates and some members of parliament”. It also states that the advertising ban “will have financial implications for broadcasters and the sport”, who will generate “significant revenue” from broadcast rights deals and product fees from betting.
On Thursday, an investigation by the communications watchdog found six betting agencies, including Tabcorp and Picklebet, had breached Betstop’s rules “which protect registrants”. Chaney said the government needed to do more, writing of
Late last year, some gambling industry sources said they expected the government to update its plans in the summer. But senior sources, who said they had heard no further information during the summer break, said betting companies wanted to know what Labor had planned for the industry.
One of the sources said the government had been in consultation mode for years and believed it could act quickly if Labor decided to do so, but they felt public pressure on the government to take action on gambling advertising had softened. The source said gambling companies are making preparations by changing the way and location of advertising.
