JOURNALIST: Can you tell me how disappointed are you in the US’s decision to scrap these exemptions?

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND SPORT ANIKA WELLS: You’re asking about the Australia Post?

JOURNALIST: Yes.

WELLS: So what's happened with the Australia Post is they've made an operational decision like 10 or 11 other countries to temporarily cease parcel deliveries to the States. Obviously as part of our broader position on tariffs, we don't agree with the tariffs and we are working closely amongst colleagues to try and do everything we can to make sure that the impact of tariffs on Australian businesses in particular are eased as quickly as possible. But with respect to Australia Post's decision today, whilst operational, and not a decision of the Albanese Government, but one of the Australia Post operations, we hope that Australia Post is able to work through a solution with the US authorities as quickly as possible to make sure that this is a very temporary adjustment for businesses in Australia.

JOURNALIST: Do you know how close the organisation is, maybe to a workaround?

WELLS: That's a question for Australia Post who has made this decision and who will be working this through but we hope and we urge Australia Post to make this as quick as possible.

JOURNALIST: Do you have any idea just how many Australian businesses or how many parcels are sent to the US each year?

WELLS: Question for Australia Post Operations.

JOURNALIST: Minister, new concerns about betting, particularly in the NRL with an apparent plunge on the Bulldogs that seem to mirror some pre-game changes from their opposition. Are you sure that betting regulations in Australia on sport are tough enough?

WELLS: I have never for one minute said that they are. As the Minister for Sport for three years I have worked with Sport Integrity Australia to try and crack down on offshore gambling and the way that these things impact our athletes in Australia. This activity has a very real impact on athletes in Australia, both Australian citizens and people who come here to play, and we have been working with SIA for a number of years to do what we can in the sport ministry to do more to protect Australian athletes.

JOURNALIST: We need tougher laws?

WELLS: We have been working on particular pieces of legislation that we hope to bring to the parliament as soon as we can, to address this issue.

JOURNALIST: How concerned are you about the scandal in the NRL?

WELLS: I work with SIA every single day on this kind of activity so whilst this isn't new it is part of a broader problem that we have been working together to try and resolve- well, not resolve, but to alleviate as quickly as possible, because my focus has always been on the athletes and making sure that our athletes are protected in their own workplace, which here is on the footy pitch.

JOURNALIST: Worrying?

WELLS: Yes?

JOURNALIST: Are you worried by it? I mean how concerned are you?

WELLS: I think I've answered your question, this is not new for us-

JOURNALIST: Well, I haven't heard you concerned. I'm talking about, as a Minister, how worrying is it that this scandal is occurring in the NRL?

WELLS: I would say, as the Sports Minister, I have been worried for more than three years now about how offshore gambling in particular has impacted our athletes onshore here and we have worked with not just SIA but other states and territories about coordinating our regulation across the country so things that go on in Tasmania are picked up in WA or vice versa. There's a lot more work to do. We've identified the problem, we've made some gains, but I hope to be able to bring legislation to the Australian Parliament as quickly as possible that will do that.

JOURNALIST: It's been more than two years since the Murphy review was released. When are you planning to respond to that?

WELLS: As quickly as possible.

JOURNALIST: Can you give an exact timeframe or be more specific?

WELLS: No.