Labor gambling reforms set to pass as winter break ends
Parliament is returning with government deals expected to see contentious changes to gambling advertising, media funding and NDIS benefits become law.
A senior government minister concedes controversial changes to gambling laws, expected to pass in the next fortnight, will lack the bite many Australians expected.
The betting amendments are among a handful of major policy stalemates that appear on their way to being resolved as federal parliament returns to Canberra after a five-week winter hiatus.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC Radio National on Tuesday she accepted the long-anticipated gambling advertising laws were “not where everyone wanted to be”.
Under the changes, betting ads would be limited to three per hour between 6am and 8.30pm, while gambling ads would be banned from live sport, stadiums and player jerseys.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Liberal leader Angus Taylor are due to meet on Tuesday to hash out amendments, which will curb inducements that target problem gamblers to keep betting, so Labor can get reforms over the line.
“We’ll see where that lands,” Gallagher said when asked about the leaders’ talk, after strong calls from anti-gambling advocates for a full ban on all betting ads.
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”We have already, outside of this legislation, introduced a number of stronger measures around gambling, gambling advertising, and some of the support infrastructure to help with reduce the harm of problem gambling.”
Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien said he could not predict where the coalition party room would land on the topic, particularly regarding ads during sports games.
“We’ve got to protect children from being exposed unnecessarily to gambling ads when really they should be spending time with family,” O’Brien said.
“I also believe in the importance of law and order, which is why we need to ensure that we push back against any predatory illegal behaviour of inducements and whatnot,” he said.
Independent MP Kate Chaney has said the gambling ad changes were lacklustre and failed to protect Australian children.
“We need to be really clear that we are fiddling around the edges of a deeply flawed bill,” Chaney said.
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“This is a case study in everything that frustrates the Australian public about our political system.”
Separately, the major parties have agreed to get changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the news media bargaining incentive through the Senate as part of a swathe of laws they hope to deal with in the first sitting fortnight back.
Peak disability groups warned people will die under the proposed NDIS changes, designed by the government to curb billions in annual spending and alleged fraudulent activity with the scheme.
Parliament’s return comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the Labor caucus on Monday, flagging more reform on the horizon.
“The legislation that we will be having in this second half of the year will set us up to go into 2027 even stronger,” Albanese said.
“I hope you all took the advice and did have a few days off during the break, but now it’s back to work.”
The extension of a 15 per cent pay rise for early education and care workers first announced in June is due to be introduced to parliament, as well as legislation to increase the passenger movement charge which will bump up the cost of international travel from Australia by $10.
One Nation’s first successfully elected lower house MP David Farley will also deliver his first speech to parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
-with AAP
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