As the odds of the ruling Labor government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese retaining office have shortened significantly over the election campaign, so too have the chances that wagering advertising in Australia will face a substantial post-election shakeup.
Labor effectively ran out the clock on any legislative changes late last year, despite the eagerness of Communication Minister Michelle Rowland to get the reform into the current parliament.
In what has since emerged was a “captain’s call” by Albanese, the Prime Minister decided the fight with betting companies, sports bodies and media organisations wasn’t worth having with an election up for grabs in 2025.
Reform to the promotion of advertising had been on the agenda since the findings of the “You Win Some, You Lose More” parliamentary report in June 2023 from a bi-partisan committee chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
There were 31 recommendations in the report, but there are two which drew the most political attention. The first was a detailed plan for the comprehensive ban of all forms of online gambling advertising to be introduced in four phases over three years.
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