Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address to the nation on April 1 was billed as being about measures to combat the war-driven fuel crisis ahead of Labor’s budget.
Albanese was seeking a Winston Churchill moment as public anger rose over soaring fuel prices and daily reports of empty bowsers. But his talk about “resilience”, “progressive patriotism” and “national potential”, aimed at tradies, truckies and essential workers, was more Warren G Harding, a scandal-ridden former United States president. Those hoping for decisive leadership and immediate financial relief were left disappointed.
The biggest cop-out, however, was his surprise announcement about gambling reform, which was tacked on to his “We’re all in this together” oratory.
The late Labor MP Peta Murphy’s watershed 2023 report You Win Some, You Lose More received unanimous bi-partisan support and a 70% public approval rating. It laid out 31 recommendations and handed Labor a roadmap to kick its addiction to gambling.
Murphy’s report focused on addressing the serious harm sports betting advertising was doing to children. Its key recommendations included a full gambling ad ban, outlawing predatory business models and appointing a national regulator.
But despite Labor feting its release, sustained pressure from the gambling lobby meant it has done nothing. Labor chose to gamble Murphy’s legacy and its considerable political capital on the regulatory equivalent of a three-legged horse.
Albanese told the National Press Club on April 2 that the government was implementing the “most significant reform on gambling ever”. It will “limit” gambling ads to three per hour on broadcast TV between 6am and 8.30pm, ban radio ads during school pick-up and drop-off times, restrict online ads to over 18s with “opt out” options for adults, ban celebrity and sports star endorsements and ban ads from sports venues and club uniforms.
The remaining 30 recommendations from Labor’s own inquiry did not get a mention.
ACT Senator David Pocock, a long-time gambling reform advocate, was very critical of the watered-down reforms.
“The changes … are weaker than what was previously proposed under former Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and would comprehensively fail the Murphy test, addressing only half of one of 31 recommendations,” he pointed out.
Pocock said the proposed minor changes to put caps on ads and extensions to blackout periods will not stop the gambling harm and may even make it worse, with previous partial bans leading to a sharp rise in ads over all.
Professor Samantha Thomas, a gambling researcher at Deakin University, agreed. “These so-called reforms are more about optics than impact. We all want to protect children from the tactics of the gambling industry. These reforms barely scratch the surface.
“The industry remains free to exploit young people through multiple media channels, innovate new promotions, and put young Australians at risk,” Thomas said.
“If gambling promotions are harmful in stadiums and on jerseys, why aren’t they considered harmful everywhere else? This patchwork approach makes no sense.”
Tim Costello, spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said the government has merely pushed the responsibility back onto parents.
“Not a single parent in this country would opt in to their kids seeing gambling ads — that’s why it’s opt out — many people will forget or not realise and it just puts greater onus on parents to always be logging in and opting out of countless apps and sites,” Costello said. He added that, like the social media ban, “kids pretty quickly find a way around these things”.
Costello said the weak response leaves the before and after match programs open to screen ads that “we know kids are watching” but that are not considered part of the sporting broadcast under these reforms.
The lack of tough action on gambling reform suggests the Labor government intends to continue to roll over for a tummy tickle from the gaming lobby, no matter the views of the vast majority or the recommendations of its inquiries.
Since the PM’s National Press Club address, the war in the Middle East, one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries and Labor’s credibility on gambling reform have all gone up in flames.
Australia loses $31 billion each year to gambling and children continue to be stalked in ever-inventive ways by sports betting vultures.
The government itself has become a problem gambler; it has allowed itself to become indebted to a lender of lobby favour. It fell into the trap in which the entire gambling industry is built. Once you are in too deep, it is structured so you can never pay it back.