Sweeping last-minute changes to Labor’s gambling reforms, including a crackdown on inducements, were unveiled in Parliament, hours before the release of a damning report on the matter. Source: SBS News.
A Senate committee report on the proposed changes was tabled last night, slamming the government’s attempt to protect vulnerable people from gambling addictions as being too little, too late.
It contained criticism from the coalition, Greens and independent senator David Pocock.
The reforms were referred to the committee for an inquiry over concerns they did not adequately break the connection between betting and sport nor protect kids from gambling exposure.
“This package is not an evidence-led public health response to a public health issue,” Senator Pocock said in the report.
“It leaves gambling advertising embedded in sport and across Australian media, shifts responsibility onto parents and preserves major parts of the system that have made Australians the biggest gambling losers in the world on a per capita basis.”
But the Albanese Government appeared to anticipate the report’s critical contents.
Amendments to the reforms, announced just hours before the report was tabled, included restrictions on inducements and limited commissions for affiliate agents.
The changes respond to concerns from the Greens, who said they would not support the bill in its earlier form.
The government also pledged a new opt-out register for gambling ads, which would allow Australians to sign up for a one-stop shop for removing the ads from online platforms.
It would function similarly to the Do Not Call register for spam calls, following concerns raised that people would struggle to stay on top of individual opt-out options on each online service.
A levy would be imposed on gambling companies to cover the cost of the register, Communications Minister Anika Wells told Parliament.
The amendments are expected to be debated today and signify an end to lengthy pushback from the Coalition and crossbench.
FULL STORY
Government unveils last-minute gambling reforms ahead of critical new report (AAP via SBS News)
