The Office of Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has apologised to people harmed by the gambling industry after repeatedly delaying long-awaited reforms to gambling advertising.
The apology follows mounting frustration from advocates who say the government is failing to act on recommendations made in a 2022 report by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which called for a total ban on wagering ads.
According to emails seen by the The Guardian Australia, Rowland’s office is unable to confirm when it will formally respond to the Murphy report or introduce legislation to tackle the issue, despite earlier promises to do so by the end of 2024.
One email, sent by a staffer from Rowland’s office to Mark Kempster, a former gambling addict and campaigner for reform, acknowledged the significant toll the delays have had on those advocating for change.
“I acknowledge the ongoing toll this is taking on you and others, and I’m personally very sorry that we have not been able to secure an outcome thus far,” the staffer wrote. “As a general observation though, I would note that decisions of this type require the support of the PM and Cabinet—it’s not enough for a Minister to have formed a view”.
Kempster, who submitted evidence to Murphy’s inquiry, has long called for a complete ban on gambling ads during live sports broadcasts, as well as restrictions on promotional material targeting gamblers. He expressed frustration after Rowland’s office confirmed that reforms, originally promised for later this year, are now delayed with no clear timeline for action.
“I can’t really fathom how this has been delayed again,” Kempster wrote in an email to Rowland’s office earlier this week. “The effect the constant delays is having on all of us who gave evidence as Peta’s inquiry is taking a massive toll on us. To wait up to 20 months for any type of response and actions surely cannot be acceptable”.
In a response to Kempster, the minister’s office confirmed that the reforms would not be introduced by the end of 2024. “Any changes to legislation would then be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity next year,” the staffer wrote, but admitted they could not provide a revised timeframe. “This process is taking longer than hoped,” they said.
The delay has sparked anger among gambling harm advocates, who say the government is failing to live up to its promises. Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said in a press conference this week that the government’s inaction was letting down vulnerable Australians.
“It takes backbone to protect children in this nation against very powerful vested interests. The failure to show that backbone has let Australians down,” Costello said in a press conference on Wednesday.
For many Australians affected by gambling addiction, the delay in action is not just a policy failure but a personal disappointment. For Kempster, who has struggled with gambling addiction for years, the prolonged wait for reform is a constant reminder of the harm done by gambling ads.
“I feel as though we’ve been ignored, and the delays are making things worse for people like me who are trying to recover,” Kempster said.
The government’s hesitation on gambling reform has faced significant pushback from both industry stakeholders and political opponents. Minister for Sport Anika Wells recently suggested that the financial viability of sporting codes—many of which depend on gambling revenue—was one of the reasons the government’s proposed cap on gambling ads had not yet been finalised.
Opposition communications spokesperson David Coleman has been highly critical of the government’s handling of the issue, accusing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of being “scared” to take on gambling reform due to the pressure from powerful industry groups.
“He’s scared of anti-gambling advocates like Tim Costello. He’s scared of the AFL, he’s scared of the NRL. He’s scared of the media companies. So what does he do? He cowers in the corner and does nothing,” Coleman claimed.
Gambling harm advocates are urging the government to act quickly, with Costello stressing that public health should take priority over industry interests.
“The government has the power to implement the Murphy report today,” Costello said. “It’s time to stop delaying and start protecting vulnerable Australians from the harms of gambling advertising”.
The issue of phasing out online gambling advertising has been hotly debated for a number of months. In August, it was reported that the Albanese Government would not support a total ban as recommended by the enquiry but would instead propose caps of two gambling ads per hour until 10 p.m. and a ban on ads before and after live sports events from 2026. The changes would also include a banning of ads on digital platforms.
Broadcasters, however, have warned that a stringent cap on gambling advertising could significantly impact their finances. The broadcasters have argued that a reduction in gambling ad revenue might force them to cut back on their $1.6 billion annual investment in news, sports, and local drama. It was previously estimated that a complete ban could result in a $240 million shortfall across television and radio.
In September, Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, said she is still working through the 32 recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry into the danger of online gambling. In addition to the primary recommendation of phasing out all gambling ads over three years, the inquiry suggested a national strategy that would focus on reducing gambling harm and creating a dedicated regulator with responsibility for all licensing and regulation.
For now, it remains unclear when the government will introduce its long-promised reforms. Rowland’s office has said it is committed to “getting the reforms right,” but the lack of a clear timeline for action has only increased frustration.
