Latest news with #PetaMurphy
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Upper house pushing Labor on 'secret' gambling ads plan
The federal government is about to be forced to release a draft response to a landmark gambling reform report, which has been left untouched for more than two years. Communications Minister Anika Wells, who picked up the portfolio after Labor's May 3 election win, has flagged upcoming changes to gambling advertising. Her first meeting outside of department briefings was with Rod Glover, the husband of late Labor MP Peta Murphy, who championed a ban on gambling ads. A draft response by the communications department to the "you win some, you lose more" report handed down by a bipartisan parliamentary committee was prepared for the previous minister in November 2024. But the department refused to release the 32-page document under freedom of information laws. The Murphy report's key recommendation was to phase out gambling advertising on television and online, which received unanimous support from Labor, coalition and crossbench MPs on the committee. Labor's draft policy, which was never formally released but briefed to stakeholders in mid-2024, included banning betting ads during, before and after live sports broadcasts and limiting them to two an hour outside of that parameter. Independent senator David Pocock is pushing to have the draft recommendations and ministerial briefings released under a Senate order for the production of documents, after freedom of information requests were similarly rejected. The Liberals and the Greens have given their support, meaning his order is set to pass the Senate on Wednesday, giving Labor until the end of the month to comply or explain why they will continue to keep the documents secret. A third order requests correspondence between the prime minister and gambling sector representatives and lobbying efforts from sporting codes after he intervened to shelve any action before the election. Labor's inaction was "one of the biggest failures of the last parliament and a wrong I hope we can right this time", Senator Pocock told AAP. Reform advocates are keen to find a middle ground, arguing the longer the status quo goes on, the more people are being hurt as there are few restrictions on gambling advertising. While stakeholders are pushing for a blanket ban, there is an openness to compromise on restricting when betting ads can be broadcast on live TV. They're also pushing hard for a complete advertising ban on social media and on inducements, which is when gambling companies entice people to bet more by offering incentives such as bonus bets. But the gambling lobby is strongly against a blanket social media ban, instead saying technology could be used to avoid targeting children. The sector is similarly opposed to stopping inducements. There is a willingness to discuss stopping broad inducement advertising, but gambling companies want to retain the right to push advertising to people signed up to their platforms. The Murphy review recommended that the government immediately prohibit online gambling inducements and their advertising. Commercial broadcasters and sports codes argued they needed advertising revenue to stay viable, while gambling companies warned a blanket ban would push Australians into using illegal overseas wagering sites. The AFL and NRL receive tens of millions of dollars a year as a cut from gambling agencies. Some advocates are hopeful there will be an announcement on the next steps before the end of the year, with the federal government yet to respond to the landmark report 25 months after it was handed down. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
The Advertiser
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Our gambling problem is infuriating and depressing. Here's how we can change the game
Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government.
The Guardian
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia's had two more years of gambling ad harm since the Murphy report. It's time for Labor to show some courage
Two years ago this week the Murphy report was delivered to the government, recommending the banning of gambling ads. And for two years the Albanese government has failed to act in the face of pressure from vested interests. Over those two years Australians have gambled away another $60bn. In June 2023 Labor MP Peta Murphy said: 'Australians are the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling. We have a culture where sport and gambling are intrinsically linked. These behaviours are causing increasingly widespread and serious harm to individuals, families and communities.' Australians know we're the biggest losers by a large stretch over any other nation in the world. Australians know that gambling causes mental and financial stress. Australians know that gambling losses can trigger family violence. Australians know that gambling ads are normalising gambling, for children and adults. Australians want it to stop. Australia Institute polling in March reconfirmed the majority view that three in four Australians support a total ban on gambling ads phased in over three years. These numbers are mirrored in surveys by the AFL Fans Association. But the government is putting power before people. At a public forum run by Kooyong independent Dr Monique Ryan, Curtin independent Kate Chaney and me in Melbourne on Wednesday night, John, who has experienced gambling harm, said that because of failed policy 'a lot of people have seen suicide as the only option to escape the predatory behaviour of the gambling companies'. The failure runs long and deep and crosses party lines. Murphy represented the outer Melbourne seat of Dunkley, which has more than its fair share of struggling Australians. She knew, especially after the social policy committee inquiry proved it, that online gambling and its blanket advertising was preying on their vulnerabilities. She achieved rare multipartisan support for the report, which recommended a three-year phased gambling ad ban. That was just one of 31 recommendations, among them implementing a national strategy on harm reduction and national regulation, an ombudsman, a harm reduction levy, a public education campaign, more independent research and improved data collection. 'A phased, comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising is recommended within three years,' Murphy said. 'This will give major sports and broadcasters time to find alternative advertisers and sponsors, while preventing another generation from experiencing escalating gambling harm.' But to appease the gambling companies, broadcasters and sporting codes, both major parties have offered a halfway house, a partial ban to reduce ads per hour and keep ads out of prime-time sport. Previous similar policies have increased the number of ads in other programs including during news and family drama. When pressed on his reticence to implement a full ban, the prime minister has repeatedly implied that gambling is part of Australian culture. That's disingenuous. Firstly, this is not a debate about banning gambling, it's about the ads that are encouraging it and causing untold harm. Secondly, private sports betting has only been available since SportsBet was licensed in 1993. The 'culture' has been built by profit-driven industries, and it can be changed by a government with courage. Before an election, you can (perhaps) understand why a government may not want to defy powerful media companies that are embedded with sport in this country and historically have had the power to turn elections. After, with a more than 90-seat majority, what's the excuse? If the issue is the profitability of the broadcasters – and I'm all for a strong media landscape – that should be addressed separately. Our communities should not be saddled with gambling problems to keep media and multinational gambling companies profitable. Nor should fans be preyed on by sporting codes that get a commission from each bet. It is immoral. Had the government found its courage at the time, we would now be just one year off a full ad ban. Instead, they've failed to honour Murphy's committee'scommonsense recommendations. In turn, Australian communities have experienced another two years of gambling ads, normalising the link between betting and sport. During the last term of parliament, I twice tabled a private member's bill to ban gambling advertising. South Australian MP Rebekha Sharkie also tabled legislation to address the issue. In all cases the government refused to debate it. Now is the time. MPs Chaney and Ryan have kicked off a new 'ban gambling ads now' push this week. They have support from their communities, gambling advocates and fans. On the backbenches in both major parties there is also support for this change. The opportunity sits with Anika Wells, the new minister for sport and communications (a vexed coupling in this context), who must respond to the Murphy report. Peta Murphy died of breast cancer in December 2023. Her legacy must not be allowed to die with her. Zoe Daniel is a three-time ABC foreign correspondent and former independent member for Goldstein
The Advertiser
28-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
What's gambling cost? Advocates slam political inaction
Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What's gambling cost? Advocates slam political inaction
Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm. "Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
