Australia PM shuts down claims gambling ad ban is imminent as he defends record
Anthony Albanese confirms government is consulting with media organisations, sporting bodies and anti-gambling lobby to “get the reforms right”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has quashed reports the Labour government will ban gambling ads on TV within two years as well as an “almost immediate ban” on online marketing.
Speaking during a press conference in Perth alongside Education Minister Jason Clarke and premier of Western Australia Roger Cook, Albanese dismissed the policy shift which had been reported by Sky News Australia.
The news channel disclosed that a TV ban would take two years to come into effect due to contractual agreements, while federal legislation could force operators to stop advertising online.
The report also claimed the government will not consider the late Peta Murphy’s blanket ban proposal but is instead approaching the gambling ad topic on three fronts: the saturation of ads, children’s exposure to ads and ads during sporting matches.
Albanese addressed the latest news report during the press conference as he hit back at suggestions from within his own party that the government “isn’t going far enough”.
He highlighted that under his reign as prime minister, Australia had enforced a credit card ban for online gambling, which came into effect from 11 June, as well as the launch of self-exclusion register BetStop and safer gambling declarations alongside ads.
Albanese said: “We have not come to a conclusion, we’re in discussions. I’ve seen reports that allege that they know what the position is. Well, they don’t.
“What we’ve been doing is having a consultation to make sure we get the reforms right. We know problem gambling is an issue, and we want to deal with those issues in a constructive way.
“We’re continuing to engage with the media organisations, with sporting organisations, as well as the anti-gambling lobby.
“We’re engaging constructively. That’s what good governments do. They reach out and engage constructively,” he added.
Gambling ads discourse has engulfed mainstream Australian media over the summer after more than a year passed since Murphy’s 31-point recommendation plan to change the sector had failed to garner significant traction.
At the start of August, media reports claimed Albanese’s government were considering a cap system on TV ads, rather than the proposed blanket ban.
This led to former prime ministers and health officials urging the government to implement Murphy’s 31-page report.
A week later, the Australian Medical Association backed a blanket ban, claiming anything less would “do nothing to protect Australian’s falling into the grips of gambling addiction”.