Labor accused of cop-out over gambling ad changes

Independent MPs have accused the federal Labor government of kowtowing to gambling companies and betraying the legacy of one of its MPs, the late Peta Murphy, after this masthead flagged proposed changes that would cap, rather than ban, gambling advertisements.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland’s mooted plans, reported at the weekend, would cap gambling ads to two an hour on each channel until 10pm, ban gambling ads an hour before and after live sport, and include a blanket ban on betting ads on social media and other digital platforms.

The proposals, which are yet to go to cabinet and are subject to change, have been roundly criticised by independent politicians as well as reform advocates for not going far enough to curb problem gambling. The plans were revealed to this masthead by five sources briefed on the changes, and an announcement is expected within weeks.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland’s mooted plans would cap gambling ads to two an hour on each channel until 10pm.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

They come more than a year after a parliamentary inquiry chaired by Peta Murphy recommended a ban on all gambling ads across television, radio, newspapers and online within three years.

Independent senator David Pocock called the new proposals a cop-out and a betrayal of Murphy’s work and legacy.

“There is support in the parliament for the government to implement the Murphy review recommendations in full rather than this watered-down policy aimed at appeasing the gambling industry,” he said on Sunday.

“An overwhelming majority of Australians want to see strong action to address the enormous harm gambling causes. The Albanese government needs to find the courage to stand up to gambling companies and do what’s right for our community rather than caving again to pressure from vested interests.”

Independent MP Kate Chaney, who was on the committee with Murphy, said the government’s position would be hugely disappointing to communities around Australia.

Gambling advertising had tripled in the past 10 years and was now deeply embedded across the sports sector, she said.

Member for Goldstein Zoe Daniel says the government’s proposed gambling reforms don’t go far enough.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“People who are experiencing problems with gambling find it impossible to escape ads ... There are ads everywhere you look,” she said. “With ads still appearing on TV, on radio, in arenas and on jerseys, gambling will remain embedded in sport.

“The government has an opportunity to lead and leave a legacy, by making ads for online gambling history, like we did with tobacco decades ago. Instead, it is kowtowing to the power of the media companies, sports codes and gambling companies who are all profiting from people’s misery.”

Freedom of Information documents show Rowland and/or representatives of her office held 66 meetings in six months about gambling reform, meeting with various groups including gambling companies, media businesses, sporting bodies and organisations dealing with gambling harm.

Fellow teal independent MP Zoe Daniel criticised the mooted government plan, saying the evidence showed that restrictions on gambling ads - as opposed to an outright ban - did not work.

“How many more young and impressionable sports fans are going to have their lives ruined before government gets the message?” she said.

“Rather than responding to the Murphy report, Michelle Rowland is giving the gambling giants pretty much what they want – the appearance of action when all the proposed measures would do is enable them to continue to normalise the relationship between gambling and sport and wreck the lives of thousands more mainly young people.

“She is conspiring with the sector to try to enable them to continue grooming young people, many of whom will end up in serious financial trouble and with severe mental health problems.”

Media companies including Seven, Ten and Nine, the owner of this masthead, declined to comment, citing non-disclosure agreements.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the government’s move to require media companies to sign non-disclosure agreements was inexplicable.

“It’s not a national security matter, it’s not market-sensitive, and it’s all about trying to have this secrecy shrouding many of these discussions, as they’ve done with religious discrimination,” Dutton said.

“… We want to see sensible policy in relation to advertising and gambling policy, but if … they’re just trying to clean barnacles off before they get to an election, I’m not sure we’re going to end up with the best policy. So let’s see what it is they propose.”

The Alliance for Gambling Reform welcomed a potential crackdown on social media gambling advertising as significant, but urged the government to implement all 31 recommendations of the Murphy review.

Gambling reform advocate Tim Costello.

The alliance’s chief advocate, Tim Costello, said Australians lost more than $25 billion each year to gambling, the highest per capita level in the world.

“If the reports are true, this decision just underlines the power of the gambling lobby and its allies, and those interests have trumped the concerns of most Australians,” Costello said.

“I met with the prime minister once last year and with the communications minister only twice, but apparently this government continues to engage frequently with the gambling lobby and those who profit from the proliferation of gambling advertisements.”

Rowland was contacted for comment.

Additional reporting: Paul Sakkal

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