Question Time response - Gambling Reform

Question – Federal Member for Curtin, Kate Chaney MP (Independent)

I understand there are AFL executives in the House today. Is it true that the Government continues to water down its proposed gambling reform because of pressure from the powerful broadcast media, sports codes and gambling companies against the wishes of the Australian community?

Answer – Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

I thank the Honourable Member for her question. Mr Speaker, the problem is there - gambling harms – and I’m sure every member of this place is concerned about that. On the important issue of wagering advertising, I've made it clear that the status quo is untenable. 

The need for meaningful action is clear, and we know that - Roy Morgan insights recently showed amongst other things - that the number of people betting on sports has doubled in the past five years and ten per cent of sports bettors are classified at risk of problem gambling. 

We know that this is unacceptable. That is why we need reform, and that's why we need to get reform right to deliver both harm reduction and cultural change. 

Commissioned under the Albanese Labor Government, we had a comprehensive report by our late colleague Peta Murphy with one of the best analyses of the problem. It is time now to turn to implementation, and there are three priorities at stake here, Mr Speaker.

Tackling the normalisation of wagering in sport; reducing the exposure of children to wagering advertising; and tackling the saturation and targeting of advertisements, especially in the online space, and especially to vulnerable groups such as young men aged 18 to 45. 

Now, the Member's question goes to stakeholders, the Member's question goes to the process that we are undertaking at the moment, addressing these priorities. Having gathered the evidence about harm in response to this report, we have assessed the impact of various options and consulting on a proposed model, and stakeholders are putting their views forward. The Government will continue to consult in a mature and orderly manner consistent with a proper Cabinet process. 

Now, the Member's question also contains some imputations, and I think it is important to have the facts here. The facts, for example, over some commentary, and I will quote, Teal MP Zoe Daniel said “Rowland had met 66 times with gambling executives in six months according to documents uncovered by Freedom of Information enquiry. And it goes on to be repeated, and I quote from the Member for Goldstein, “She is conspiring with the sector to continue grooming young people.” 

Mr Speaker, that is not what those FOI documents uncovered. In fact, the documents will show I met zero times. Zero times with gambling executives, and we will continue to go about this process with the facts in an orderly way, because facts are important here.