A unilateral ban on gambling advertising as part of the Prime Minister’s reforms to protect children from harm has been slammed as “flawed” by advocates.
Anthony Albanese used his National Press Club address today to outline a series of anti-gambling measures the federal government plans to introduce.
The action plan includes a cap of three ads per hour on TV broadcasts between 6am and 8:30am, a total ban during live sports broadcasts during this period and a ban on radio gambling ads during school breaks and holidays.
Gambling ads will also be banned on online platforms unless users are logged in, over 18 and have the option to opt-out, while ads using celebrities or athletes, queer-style ads targeting sports fans, and ads in sports venues or on players’ uniforms will be illegal.
Mr Albanese told the National Press Club: “We’re getting the balance right, letting adults do what they want, but making sure our kids don’t see betting ads everywhere they look.”
“Because we don’t want kids to grow up thinking that fitness and gambling are connected. We want Australians to love sport for what it is.“
Mr Albany also flagged a crackdown on online lottery products and offshore gambling providers, as well as a ban on online keno “pocket pokies”.
The announcement comes more than three years after the You Win Some, You Lose Others parliamentary inquiry into the harms of online gambling, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, was reported to the government.
It has been three years since the government reported on gambling harm reduction. ((ABC News: Stephen Cavenagh)
The investigation made 31 recommendations, including a total ban on online gambling advertising as well as TV, radio and stage bans in stadiums and jerseys.
There were also calls to develop a national online gambling harm reduction strategy, create clearer Commonwealth regulations, establish a new independent online gambling ombudsman and introduce a harm reduction levy on betting companies to fund research, education and support services.
One of the key recommendations was to ban or limit incentives, such as bonus bets and promotions that encourage risky bets.
Mr Albany said the Government would deliver a full response to the Murphy report when Parliament returns in May.
“The Murphy report is not where it begins and ends,” he said.
He added that “more than half” of gambling losses came from pokie machines, which were not identified by the report.
But the Prime Minister called the proposal “the most important gambling reform ever implemented”.
Following a report in the Sydney Morning Herald about Mr Albanese’s intention to immediately respond to gambling inquiries, ACT independent senator David Pocock called on the government not to ignore the proposals.
“To give a half-baked response to the Murphy Review almost three years after it was published under the cover of a major international conflict was a betrayal of all Australians.”
Senator Pocock said.
“The publication of this under the guise of a huge increase in global uncertainty for some minor tweaking in gambling advertising should be called for what it is.”
Senator Pocock said the report listed the ban on gambling promotion as the “most urgent” reform needed to reduce harm.
“Australia has not been hit by gambling companies over the years to see the kind of half-hearted response the Albanian government has taken over by vested interests,” he said.
Deakin University Professor Samantha Thomas, who researches gambling, said she was concerned that the government’s response would not adequately address the risks, including the risk to children.
“We want action, yes – but there is no option,” she said.
“Effective reforms are needed that actually protect young people, not those that leave the industry free to innovate around the rules.“
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