Independent Member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan, has raised concerns that today's announcement by the Albanese Government on gambling reform falls well short of the Murphy Report's recommendations.
In 2023, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs handed the Albanese Government a clear roadmap to reform Australia's predatory gambling industry. The Peta Murphy-led report – titled You Win Some, You Lose More – made 31 recommendations, including a comprehensive ban on all online gambling advertising across all platforms, a national online gambling regulator, a legislated duty of care on wagering service providers, and a harm reduction levy on the industry.
Responding to today's announcement, Dr Ryan said: "Today's announcement by the Albanese Government delivers none of the Murphy Report's fundamentals when it comes to gambling harm reduction.
"The government says it is committed to protecting children and young people from gambling harm but, under the proposal announced today, children will still be exposed to gambling ads on television and radio, every night and every day.
The Murphy Report found partial bans on gambling advertising do not work. Notably, the 2017 media reforms resulted in gambling advertising on television increasing.
Says Dr Ryan: "Australians lose more to online gambling than the citizens of any other country. Gambling harm drives financial ruin, family breakdown, and suicide. It is a major public health crisis, and the Murphy Report recommended we treat it as one.
"A key principle of public health initiatives is prioritising population-level initiatives over individual responsibilities. Last month, I moved a Private Members Bill to that end, to formally recognise gambling as a "public health matter", so I'm concerned the proposals announced today still handball the responsibility to prevent gambling harm to individuals."
The government's latest reforms fail to respond to a key recommendation of the Murphy Report: to establish national regulation and a national online gambling regulator with broad powers to regulate, ensure compliance, and enforce the law. Without this, the ineffectual Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission will remain the de facto betting regulator.
Dr Ryan: "There are longstanding and unresolved concerns about the gambling regulator's integrity and oversight – concerns which have not been addressed by the reforms proposed today. Regulation of any industry is ineffective if is not properly enforced.
"The Albanese Government's gambling advertising reforms are a step in the right direction, but they don't go nearly far enough.
"After years of delay and mounting community harm, Anthony Albanese is proposing half-measures when this public health crisis demands comprehensive action."
