The Anthony Albanese government is expected to announce further gambling ad restrictions following a 1000 day delay in action.
The delay refers to the 2023 Murphy Report, a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm. It recommended sweeping reforms including a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising.
The proposed reforms are set to target the link between gambling and sporting and protecting children from gambling exposure.
Among the proposed changes is an extended blackout period of gambling ads increased from the current five minute period, a cap of the volume of ads allowed to be broadcast on television and a phased ban on ads on player jerseys and in stadiums. Additional reforms will restrict advertising around school pick up hours and force social media/streaming services to allow parents and children to opt out of ads.
Despite the breadth of new proposed measures, Albanese has stood firm in his lack of belief in a full ban, drawing criticism from Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and the Greens Party.
In a statement on his website, Wilkie said: “The Government clearly has much work still to do. If it calls the job done with just this proposal, it will just prove again that the Government remains scared stiff of the gambling and media companies, as well as the major sporting codes.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, a spokesperson for the Greens Party echoed the criticism: “It’s taken the Albanese Government far too long to respond to the massive community concern about gambling harm in our communities.”
“The reported plan from the Albanese Government appears to fall short of the real reform needed to stand up to the gambling lobby and protect Australians but we will await the details of the proposal.”
“Any reform must genuinely reflect the key recommendations of the Murphy Report and respond to the real harm that gambling is causing to families across Australia” she added.
The proposed approach is a more incremental strategy prioritising balance. With these proposed reforms, the Albanese government is aiming to act on concerns of public health without compromising economic output from the media and sporting sectors which heavily rely upon revenue from gambling ads.
It is not expected to be the final reforms. The Labour party has indicated that these will act as a foundation, which will be added to in the coming years.
These reforms do not address a number of recommendations made to parliament by Murphy’s report over 1000 days ago.
