PM eyes end to wagering reform debate as Nationals MP demands action on ‘predatory’ practices

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is confident his government will bring an end to the long-running gambling reform debate next week, as progress is made with the Coalition on amendments to the bill presented to parliament last month.  

Speaking during Question Time, Albanese said he had engaged widely with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum as the government worked through what he said was a complex policy area.

“One of the things that I have done is said that I would engage across the board with parliamentarians on these issues,” Albanese said, noting he had held discussions with crossbench MPs as well as Opposition leaders, both past and present.

“Because what I do is actually I’m prepared to engage across the Parliament,” he said.

“These issues are complex. There are issues of foreign engagement as well.

“The idea that gambling is an issue that just occurs on free-to-air TV or just occurs in one area is just not right.”

He also challenged commonly held assumptions about the nature of gambling addiction in Australia.

“The idea that betting on sports is the major gambling addiction in Australia is absolutely false,” Albanese said.

The government’s own impact analysis shows 26 per cent of gambling losses are in the wagering sector, with 64 per cent coming from gaming machines.

The Prime Minister was asked by a crossbench MP about the AFL and NRL receiving around $90 million in product fees from gambling companies. He defended sporting organisations against criticism, arguing they play a vital role in Australian communities.

“The idea as well that these sporting codes are somehow evil, I reject,” he said.

“Sporting codes do a fantastic job of engaging young people in particular, being a binding force for people’s identity with their local communities and are really important.”

Albanese signalled the government was now moving towards a final resolution of the matter.

“We’ll work through it. The debate has taken place in the Parliament over the last couple of days. We’ll bring that debate to finality next week,” he said.

He added that amendments to be introduced would reflect a position adopted by Labor’s National Conference in Adelaide.

However, he was not specific about what amendments may be adopted and whether there may be a crackdown on generosities.

There does not seem to be broad agreement within the Coalition on where the reforms may land.

Nationals MP Pat Conaghan, who was deputy chair of the committee which delivered the You Win Some, You Lose More report in 2023, condemned the failure to implement the 31 recommendations put forward.

Speaking in parliament and on social media, Conaghan said he had received “hundreds of emails and letters” from Australians calling for tougher gambling reforms.

“We appear to have lost the voice of reason within the Labor Party when it comes to gambling reforms. The legislation before us this week is a watered-down version of what was recommended within Peta’s (Murphy) report.”

Conaghan argued the bill failed to address key areas of concern, including online gambling advertising and inducements offered by betting companies.

“If this legislation in its current form is allowed to pass, unlimited gambling advertising can still remain online,” he said. “Predatory inducements by gambling companies are allowed to remain untouched. On social media, it still allows personalised, repeated predatory advertising.”

He also criticised the absence of any mandated future review of the reforms’ impact.

“And bizarrely, it’s missing any future review to look at the consequences of the bill on gambling harm victims, the media industry and sporting codes,” Conaghan said.

“No one is suggesting that Australians shouldn’t be able to have a punt. No one is suggesting that personal freedoms should be removed.

“But predatory practices by gambling companies must be dealt with. Otherwise, what is the point of this?”

“I say to Labor, if you’re going to do something, do it properly. Please enact the amendments being put forward by all sides of the floor that honour your former colleague’s report. Australians deserve it.”