Parliamentary documents have revealed that new federal Communications Minister Anika Wells met with broadcasters and gambling reform advocates in June, as she ramped up consultations and discussions ahead of possible reform on advertising.
While Wells had previously confirmed that she had been undertaking consultations with stakeholders over possible changes to federal government policy in the wake of the "You Win Some, You Lose More" report, the details of who she has been speaking to have come to light thanks to a parliamentary order.
In an initiative led by independent Senator David Pocock, Wells was ordered to produce documents surrounding any consultation she had had around online gambling since being appointed in her role after May’s federal election.
There were 14 documents covered by the order, but seven were withheld because of public interest immunity, in that they would both disclose or pre-empt the deliberations of federal cabinet.
The other seven documents, which were submitted this week, had significant portions of them redacted, including details of the precise nature of gambling advertising reforms being discussed.
What they do reveal is that the Communications Minister met with the Alliance of Gambling Reform’s Tim Costello and Martin Thomas via an online call on June 25.
A briefing of that meeting is contained in the documents, including the discussion of the 31 recommendations of the “You Win Some, You Lose More” report, a review of national self-exclusion register BetStop and the conflict Costello saw between Wells holding the ministerial portfolios of Sports and Communications.
Immediately before that meeting, the Minister held an introductory consultation with Foxtel’s chief executive Patrick Delany, where wagering reform was one of the major items on the agenda.
Earlier on June 25, Wells also spoke to regional broadcaster WIN and its CEO Andrew Lancaster and discussed similar matters, as well as Free TV Australia’s CEO Bridget Fair and several of her staff.
Rich Irvine
On June 23, the Nine Network’s CEO, Matt Stanton, and Public Affairs Director, James Boyce, met with the Communications Minister and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, where gambling advertising was among the aspects slated for discussion.
What exactly was discussed is not known because the content of the meeting has been redacted in the submitted document.
On June 11, Wells attended the opening of the Seven Network’s new Melbourne newsroom and studio. It is not known if there were precise discussions surrounding gambling advertising at that event, but a briefing prepared for the minister indicated that it may have been on the agenda.
“The Government conducted confidential consultations with key stakeholders in late 2024, including Seven West Media, on a proposed wagering advertising reform model,” it said.
“The proposed model sought to address 3 key community concerns: normalisation of wagering and sport; children and young people’s exposure to wagering advertising; and the saturation of wagering advertisements.”
Seven chairman Kerry Stokes and CEO Jeff Howard were listed as key contacts of that event.
None of the Communications Minister’s published documents point to meetings with corporate bookmakers or their representatives. However, they could be among the seven documents withheld.
It is also unclear whether Wells met with sporting bodies or representatives of Australia’s racing bodies. Repeated requests for meetings with punters' representatives have been rebuffed.
