Government will have to review gambling bill after explosive Senate evidence

Labor’s contentious gambling reforms are unlikely to become law in their current form after the Coalition joined the Greens and independents in opposing the bill, which has been maligned by opponents as too weak.

A Senate inquiry into the legislation this week heard evidence of Australians losing loved ones to gambling, allegations of unnamed gambling companies offering drugs to problem gamblers, and the harm caused by inducements.

Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson said the inquiry has made clear the government has “completely dropped the ball on delivering meaningful, workable reforms”.

Therefore, she announced the Coalition will not to support the proposed bill in its current form and will move amendments to strengthen it.

“The bill ignores gambling inducements which are causing immeasurable harm to some Australians,” Henderson said in a statement.

“There is mounting evidence legislative action is required to combat predatory inducements which target high-risk or vulnerable gamblers.”

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Inducements are offers like bonus bets that encourage gamblers – often the most active ones – to continue placing bets.

Nine.com.au understands no party has put any amendments to Labor yet, and Henderson did not outline exactly what the Coalition will propose.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Coalition’s stance, saying the issue is “so much bigger than party politics”.

“It is about doing what is right to protect vulnerable people and Australian children,” she told nine.com.au.

“The parliament must act to fix these laws, and I’m willing to work with anyone to get this fixed.”

Independent Senator David Pocock said he would back the Coalition if it moved amendments to ban gambling inducements and create an opt-in measure for gambling advertising.

“I look forward to seeing the details of the amendments Senator Henderson is proposing,” he told nine.com.au.

“I hope Senate colleagues in the Coalition will also support my push for a national regulator, a full gambling advertising ban and an end to harmful inducements as recommended by the Murphy review.”

Labor’s proposed reform includes restricting gambling advertising on broadcast television during live sport events between 6am and 8.30pm, banning the use of celebrities and sports players in gambling and banning gambling ads on online platforms through an opt-out measure.

However, the government’s legislation does not fully implement the 31 recommendations in the 2023 report handed down by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy just months before her death, including a ban on inducements.

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Communications Minister Anika Wells stood by the reforms when she was asked on Monday whether Labor’s bill goes far enough.

“People have made very clear to me that they feel they’ve waited long enough,” she said.

“And whilst we need to go through this inquiry process, and that is part of democracy, we hear consistently… people who do not wish to see any further progress in this space, that every time we re-examine it, they have more reason to ask for a delay.”

Parliament will resume next week, with gambling set to dominate the agenda.

A spokesperson for Wells told nine.com.au on Wednesday the reforms were “significant and balanced”.

“We have had constructive discussions with the Coalition and the Greens on these reforms,” they said.

There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.