The Albanese government is prepared to tighten rules on gambling inducements, but is less likely to budge on advertising rules, as negotiations continue on wagering legislation, which so far has lacked the support needed to pass parliament.
Federal Labor is open to considering amendments to its legislation from the Coalition when MPs return to Canberra this week, sources say.
The government was prepared to make changes around wagering inducements – a focus of explosive parliamentary hearings last week – as part of negotiations, but was less open to tweaking proposed rules on the frequency of advertisements on TV and online.
Additional restrictions on ads are a major demand of gambling harm advocates and the Senate crossbench.
Upper house hearings have aired sensational allegations that wagering companies provided illegal drugs and access to sex workers to keep problem gamblers betting. Betting giants Sportsbet and Tabcorp say there is no evidence to substantiate these claims.
“If the government’s now willing to move on some things, well, good, but the devil is going to be in the detail,” the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, a vocal proponent of stronger action, told the ABC on Sunday. “Inducements, of course … should be gone.”
The Coalition, crossbenchers and the Greens have opposed Labor’s reforms as proposed by the communications minister, Anika Wells, meaning the legislation is unlikely to pass in its current form.
Sources said the government was more inclined to deal with the Coalition and would await amendments from the opposition after its party room met in the nation’s capital this week.
The government frontbencher Jenny McAllister said on Sunday that Wells was in discussion with the Coalition and had been “paying attention” to evidence from the recent parliamentary hearings.
McAllister said Labor thought it had “broadly got the legislation right” but was open to “sensible amendments”. “We want to see this through the parliament,” she said.
Inducements can include perks like “bonus bets”, promotional odds, rebates or more VIP enticements like hospitality at events.
The landmark gambling reform report from late Labor MP Peta Murphy called for a total and immediate ban on inducements and their advertising. That issue has been a key focus for advocates within the Coalition, crossbench and Greens – and even among some Labor MPs who want the government to go further.
Gambling companies have opposed changes to inducements.
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Hanson-Young, speaking on the Insiders program, suggested she would support the proposed “opt-out” model for online advertising being switched to “opt-in”.
Critics have argued streaming platforms would be able to show more ads during breaks in play under Labor’s current plan if they implemented a “triple lock” function including an opt-out feature. Campaigners have also criticised the legislation for allowing three TV ads per hour from ۶am to ۸.۳۰pm, with a ban during live sport.
Wells has previously said the government believes the current proposal strikes the correct “balance” between addressing problem gambling while not unduly penalising media companies and sporting codes which rely on wagering revenue.
Labor MP Jerome Laxale last week said he would welcome Labor’s draft laws “being strengthened in the Senate”. The deputy opposition leader, Jane Hume, said the shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, was negotiating for new controls over inducements.
Tim Wilson, the shadow treasurer, told News۲۴ on Sunday that the Coalition wanted more action to protect children.
“Under the government’s proposed bill, it doesn’t limit the capacity to advertise to children, and that’s something that I’m concerned about, making sure that we’ve got the measures that are consistent, appropriate, and also reflecting the changing nature of technology,” he said.
Last week’s inquiry heard evidence that gambling ads were being played on Spotify between Disney songs for children.
Hanson-Young on Sunday demanded tougher regulation from the government and stated: “If you are not prepared to do what’s needed here, well, we’ll take this out of your hands and we’ll do it in the Senate ourselves.”
