Some Liberal and National MPs warn against overregulation in party-room discussion, while others argue for more stringent rules
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Coalition MPs have warned the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, not to overreach in talks with Anthony Albanese on Labor’s gambling advertising crackdown, insisting rules that are too stringent would not strike the right balance on personal responsibility.
The prime minister and the opposition leader met several times on Tuesday to negotiate on Labor’s legislation on gambling, with restrictions on betting inducements, paring back TV advertising hours and tweaking rules for streaming platforms among possible avenues for reform after Albanese signalled a willingness to amend his own bill.
While a clutch of newer MPs, including the outspoken advocate Simon Kennedy, have called for the Coalition to seek more amendments, it is understood more senior members of the party room are less inclined to push for sweeping changes, with Taylor expected to agree to a few more modest tweaks. A deal on amendments could be agreed in time for the bill to be debated in parliament on Wednesday.
Debate over gambling dominated a meeting of the joint Coalition party room in Canberra on Tuesday, with nine Liberal and Nationals MPs making their views known to colleagues.
Among the contributions were five MPs pushing for tougher restrictions and four arguing the Coalition needed “to get the balance right” and not go too far in limiting ads. Some warned overly restrictive rules for Australian gambling companies could push some punters to illegal overseas operators, citing comparisons with the rise of illegal tobacco amid rising government excise pushing up retail prices.
Taylor himself raised the question of personal responsibility in a media conference on Monday, an issue that was also raised in Tuesday’s meeting alongside concerns about “overregulation”.
Coalition MPs used the meeting to raise concerns about “perceived behaviour of gambling preying on the vulnerable”, but the possibility of a deal remained “a moving feast” as parliament resumed after the winter break.
The gambling industry is increasingly resigned to the paring back of inducements, but it says that such restrictions could send gamblers to unregulated offshore operators and particularly impinge the earnings of smaller wagering operators.
Industry sources said they were seeking to warn Coalition MPs about the impact of further changes to inducements or ad rules, but rejected claims from the Greens that they were intimately involved in negotiations.
While Labor sources say they are still confident Taylor will get on board, the Greens are also still talking with the government, signalling a deal with the Coalition is not yet done. Albanese on Monday said publicly he would “later this week” have progress on inducements and advertising rules.
Labor has been criticised for falling short of the ambition of a parliamentary inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy three years ago, and is talking with the Coalition and the Greens to find a pathway through the Senate. Murphy’s 2023 committee recommended the government “prohibit all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising, and that it do so without delay”.
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Guardian Australia understands some small tweaks to the timing of TV advertising, specifically to lessen the impact on children, were among issues being considered in Labor’s negotiations with the Coalition and Greens.
Labor’s proposed changes would see gambling ads restricted to three an hour on broadcast TV between 6am and 8.30pm, but further timing tweaks were part of discussions.
Other changes potentially up for discussion include what was described as a “discrepancy” in ad rules for broadcast TV as opposed to streaming services. Online platforms, under Labor’s proposal, are not subject to the timing rules of broadcast TV, and would instead require a “triple lock” – users have to be logged-in, age verified and provided an opt-out option – to be able to show gambling ads.
A change to an opt-in provision, rather than opt-out, for streaming ads is also being discussed, but was not expected to be among the final amendments agreed with Taylor.
Kennedy, one of the Liberal MPs pushing for tougher action, used a speech in parliament to call for an independent review of the rules after the next election. That plan would help make any newly introduced protections even stronger within three years.
Kennedy said there were “two glaring gaps” in the existing laws: inducements to keep punters gambling longer and unlimited advertising online.
“There should be an independent review of wherever we land after the next election, so we can do more,” Kennedy said.
The government is expected to make amendments to the bill in the lower house, where the bill is listed for debate on Wednesday.
In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007
Source: Guardian - World News
