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Andrew Leigh has become the most senior member of the government to support a ban on online gambling advertisements in comments backed by several Labor backbenchers.
In a tribute to colleague Peta Murphy, who died last week aged 50 following a battle with cancer, the assistant minister for competition, charities and treasury spoke of her devotion to gambling reform.
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh says a ban on gambling advertising would be a fitting tribute to Peta Murphy.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
An advertising ban phased in over three years was one of the key recommendations of a cross-party committee into online gambling harm, which was chaired by Murphy and delivered its report to the government in June.
“Peta was frail in body but passionate in soul about those recommendations, which included a full ban on online gambling ads. It would be a fitting tribute to Peta if parliament were to enact that ban and name it after her. And, as a side benefit, we could forever redefine the term ‘Murphy’s law’,” Leigh told the House of Representatives last Wednesday.
The government is yet to respond to the committee’s recommendations but this masthead revealed in October that officials had been consulting industry stakeholders about limiting the frequency of ads on TV and radio rather than banning them.
“The status quo of online wagering advertising is untenable and the government will announce a comprehensive response in due course,” a spokesperson for Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, who share responsibility for gambling regulation, said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referenced Murphy’s advocacy for gambling reform when announcing her death on December 4.
“She helped lead the charge for important reforms like reducing the harm from online gambling because she understood the greatest privilege of public office is the opportunity to make a difference,” he said.
Two Labor MPs, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, told this masthead they wanted to see the party commit to a full ban on gambling advertisements.
“I think a number of colleagues like myself, in communities like mine, believe an outright ban on gambling ads would work. I can see absolutely no social good from the gambling industry,” one said.
Another said some in the party appeared afraid to go up against the gambling lobby.
“There are powerful voices against this … [but] there is no justification to the harm of problem gambling,” they said.
The need for gambling reform would only keep growing, a third MP said.
“We’ve got to minimise harm, particularly for young people … [and] advertising is one way of doing it,” they said.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel, one of a number of crossbenchers calling for a gambling ad ban, said it was terrific to see Leigh say publicly “what many of his caucus colleagues are saying privately”.
“I am increasingly concerned that the communications minister is planning to slide out a response under the cover of Christmas which undermines and ignores the most important and unanimous recommendation of Peta Murphy’s committee – a complete ban on gambling advertising,” said Daniel, who introduced a private member’s bill to ban gambling advertising earlier this year.
Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman said the Coalition was “deeply concerned” that the government in June voted down its bill to ban gambling ads an hour before and after sports matches.
“While the government voted against our plan, six months later it still has announced no plans of its own,” Coleman said.
Under current rules, before 8.30pm, gambling ads must stop five minutes before a sports match. But gambling companies can still have company representatives – often well-known past players – spruik odds within matches.
Since coming to power, Labor has banned the use of credit cards to gamble and replaced the “gamble responsibly” taglines on commercials warning people about gambling risks.
A spokesperson for Responsible Wagering Australia, a peak body for wagering service providers, acknowledged community sentiment had changed regarding gambling ads, but said it opposed a ban.
“Introducing blanket bans would be extreme overreach and would rip hundreds of millions of dollars from sports and broadcasters – money which flows through to regional broadcasters, local and professional sport, sports integrity programs and Australian content,” the spokesperson said.
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