The only thing standing in the way of gambling reform is the Government's cowardice

Australians are the world’s biggest losers. Last year, Australians lost $34.8 billion in bets. That’s more than Australian households spend on electricity and gas ($29.5 billion) or alcohol ($26.8 billion) – I think it’s safe to say we have a problem. And it’s not because of some inherent aspect of Australian culture that wants to bet on two flies crawling up a wall. It’s the predictable outcome of a predatory gambling industry that successive governments have been unwilling to take on.

Every year, the gambling industry destroys lives, and they’re even plotting to expand their reach by targeting new demographics such as young women.

But in 2023, after a Parliamentary inquiry into online gambling (the ‘Murphy review’) it seemed like change might be coming. The inquiry included pollies from the Labor, Liberal and National Parties, as well as independent Kate Chaney. Despite their usual appetite for animosity, the cross-party committee unanimously endorsed 31 recommendations to reduce gambling harm, including a phased-in ban on advertising for online gambling.

But, despite having a huge majority in the House, and despite previous pledges to honour the memory of the now-deceased committee chair Peta Murphy, the Albanese Government has done nothing to implement any of these recommendations. Reports suggested the Government was instead considering a partial ban, such as removing gambling ads from social media and stopping ads from airing within an hour of sporting matches.

But, according to the Financial Review, the Albanese Government is considering using their planned ban on social media for under-16s as an excuse to drop the already watered-down reforms.

This is pure political cowardice. The idea that a social media ban will also stop kids from gambling is a stretch. Given the stark reality that almost one-in-three 12-17 year old Australians gamble – yes, before they are old enough to punt legally – the government should be doing everything they can to prevent young Australians from developing a gambling habit.

According to Australia Institute polling, regulating gambling advertising is a super popular idea. Four in five Australians support banning gambling ads on social media and online (81%). Similar numbers support even stronger measures; three in four Australians (76%) support a total ban on gambling ads, phased in over three years.

So gambling reform has the support both of the general public, and a cross-party committee. But so pissweak is the Albanese government’s appetite for reform that, this week, the Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Reduction reemerged in an attempt to revitalise the push for gambling reform. This group was set up in 2023 as a non-partisan forum to meet with gambling reform advocates and raise awareness of gambling harm. According to its most recent member list, this group includes everyone from Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, independents such as Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Wilkie, Labor members, and even the hard-right Coalition Senators Sarah Henderson and Jacinta Nampijnpa Price. How’s that for unlikely bedfellows?

If the Commonwealth doesn’t act soon, they might just be gazumped by the states. The Western Australian Government is in the process of reviewing its gambling laws, with an eye on reforming existing legislation. While there is no federal oversight of gambling in Australia (changing that is another recommendation of the Murphy review) the states do have the power to regulate gambling, including how, or if, it is advertised. The consultation paper for WA’s proposed reforms cites research which found that ads for gambling are so pervasive in WA that they are ‘unavoidable’. The consultation paper discusses advertising reform as though the Commonwealth might actually do what they said, acting on the recommendations of the Murphy Review. But WA doesn’t have to wait. The consultation paper canvasses three options that would restrict gambling advertising, including a total ban on gambling advertising that would be consistent with the Murphy Review. They can do this whether or not the Commonwealth acts, and if they did they’d have nation-leading gambling reform. After what’s happened in Parliament this week they wouldn’t want to hold their breath waiting for the Commonwealth to act.

During question time on Tuesday, long-time gambling reform advocate Andrew Wilkie asked Albanese if he would allow government members a free vote on the issue. Computer, uh Albanese, said no. Less than an hour later, Kate Chaney – who was a member of the Murphy Review committee – asked the PM a version of the same question. This time the PM said he couldn’t “wave a wand and fix things immediately with one piece of legislation.” But with such a large appetite for reform both within Labor and the broader parliament why not give it a shot? This week, Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander said that a ban on gambling advertising would pass parliament on a conscience vote.

This is undoubtedly true. Polling shows that the Australian public wants reform, and the support from Labor, Coalition and Independent members of the Murphy Review committee show that our parliamentarians broadly agree that Australia needs crack down on gambling. The only thing standing in the way is the Albanese Government itself.

Originally published on The New Daily.