House debates

Monday, 13 November 2023

Bills

Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023; Consideration in Detail

6:37 pm

Photo of Michelle RowlandMichelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Warringah for the amendments. I acknowledge the member for her ongoing engagement on matters relating to harm minimisation. The member approaches this issue with the best intentions. The government will not, however, be supporting the amendments in their current form. The 2021 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry recommended banning online gambling operators from accepting credit card payments, excluding lotteries. Lotteries, including those offered by charitable organisations, are excluded from the ban, as they present a lower risk of gambling harm. In its report handed down last month the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee acknowledged concerns by stakeholders about lotteries, specifically around keno-type lotteries, and recommended:

… that the Minister for Communications undertake a review over the next 12 months into the regulation of keno-type lotteries under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

I assure the member I am taking forward this recommendation, and I have asked my department to investigate the regulation of keno-type lotteries. The government will consider this advice and act accordingly.

Question negatived.

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