Labor’s long-awaited legislation on gambling advertising will be introduced to Parliament this week ahead of a five-week winter break.
The new laws will enforce a cap of three gambling ads per hour during daytime TV, a ban on ads during live sports matches and a phase-out of stadium and jersey branding.
In an interview with ABC Radio on Monday, Anika Wells, the Minister for Communications, confirmed there wouldn’t be significant changes to what was put forward in the initial draft bill and said it was necessary to push the bill through due to the government wanting to bring in the new laws by 1 January.
“There are some revisions after the exposure draft and the consultation process and I’ll continue to work with stakeholders and parliamentarians on these reforms,” she said.
“[When it comes to] social policy, the pen is never down. But this is a big and meaningful reform package.”
Wells said she wants to see the law “legislated as quickly as we can” and that Albanese must stick with the initial plan.
“There’s nothing that is particularly substantive that will alter people’s views of the legislation, given that these are very deeply entrenched views from all sides on this particular issue.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the changes on 2 April.
He later confirmed his government’s response to the 2023 ‘You Win Some, You Lose More’ report on May 12, the same day as the Federal Budget. His delayed response saw him heavily criticised.
While the government has had more than six weeks to seek feedback on its Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, there has also been criticism of its lack of consultation, particularly from gambling harm advocates, who believe the proposed laws don’t go far enough.
