Anika Wells (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) | Hansard source

I thank the member for Boothby for her question and for her conscientious leadership in this very complex policy area. Many times the Prime Minister or I have stood here and noted that no government has gone further to protect Australians from gambling harm, and today the government is pleased to note that we are going even further. That's because the Albanese Labor government is a government that listens and a government that delivers real change for Australians. As we have listened we have heard that for many Australians having a bet is a bit of fun, but for some it can become a trap from which they cannot escape. Many of us, in our electorate offices or in public, have heard that inducements can quickly turn toxic for someone when gambling is no longer just a bit of fun.

Because of that, along with all my parliamentary colleagues here, I stood with delegates at our national conference to unanimously back more action to reduce the harm of inducements. Following productive discussions with the coalition today, both sides of the parliament have agreed to work together to bring additional amendments that make our reforms even stronger. The further amendments we have agreed to include banning inducements for 14 days after signing up with a gambling company, banning inducements on all red flag customers, banning inducements for three months after a person deregisters from BetStop, and banning commissions to staff or affiliates based on customer activity. Gambling companies know who to target to bet more. These amendments will require them to use that intelligence to identify and protect potentially vulnerable customers.

On advertising, we will also be stepping up protections. We will enshrine current protections through the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice into law, and we will extend them to online streaming services. This means restrictions on gambling ads online will match those for broadcast, with the cap now starting at 5 am. The rules that are now in place for advertising during children's shows will also be enshrined in law. We will also extend the blackout of gambling ads before live sport from five to 15 minutes.

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