Anika Wells’ gambling reforms face Senate showdown as Coalition and crossbench scrutinise Labor changes
Late changes to the government's gambling bill are set to be debated after significant opposition from the coalition and the Greens.
Last-minute changes to Labor’s gambling reforms are set to be rigorously assessed by opposing parties as the government pushes to get the long-awaited legislation across the line.
Amendments to the reforms were announced on Monday and include a crackdown on inducements, a one-stop system for Australians to opt out of seeing betting ads online, and a limit on commissions for betting agents.
The changes were unveiled by Communications Minister Anika Wells just hours before a scathing committee report on the matter, sparked by coalition and crossbench concerns, was tabled in the upper house.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Ms Wells’ reforms are expected to pass the lower house, where Labor holds a majority of seats, by the end of the sitting week.
They will then be the subject of a challenging debate in the Senate, where the government needs support from other parties to pass the laws.
The coalition used the report to savage Labor’s policy, saying it weakened previous bans on wagering advertisements during live sport and did not properly consider the harms of inducements.
Its regular Tuesday morning party meeting will be centred around deciding how to vote on Labor’s changes, particularly the updated crackdown on inducements used to keep people betting.
Most minor parties are unlikely to back the reforms.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has demanded a complete ban on all online gambling advertising and called for the establishment of a national regulator.
The report also included damning revelations from independent senator David Pocock, who said the government had failed to extricate sport from its relationship with gambling, and in doing so, failed to protect Australian children.
His views will likely affect the way other upper house independents vote on the changes.
Tuesday’s debate is expected to carry an uncomfortable undercurrent for the government, given it has been more than three years since the release of a report into gambling by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
The report contained 31 recommendations to limit the power of Australia’s gambling industry.
Feedback in the Senate on the report noted many of its recommendations had not been included in the reforms.
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