David Pocock (ACT, Independent) | Hansard source

Regardless of what time, Senator Scarr. We know that the vast majority of children, when they're watching Friday night footy and Saturday night games, don't say at 8.30 pm, 'It's bedtime; I've got to go off to bed.' They watch the second half, and we know that half-time will be after 8.30 pm and they'll be seeing gambling ads.

I will also move an amendment that will force gambling companies to pay to promote the government's new ad-stop one-stop shop. If people don't know about it, how are they going to use it? Finally, I will move an amendment mandating that warnings at the end of gambling ads include a reference to ad-stop. I think that's pretty commonsense. We heard during the Senate inquiry that SBS have had an opt-out option for a while now but basically no-one uses it because they're not aware of it, and they admitted that they're not going to promote something which is not good for them commercially if fewer people are seeing gambling ads that they're being paid to air.

I urge senators and colleagues: we have an opportunity to protect Australian children here today in this place. I really commend the courage of colleagues who crossed the floor in the other place and others who may be contemplating crossing the floor on amendments and, potentially, on the bill. Today is a historic day, but I think it'll go down in history for all the wrong reasons. We will look back in time and say: 'There was a prime minister who squibbed it. There was a prime minister who had the opportunity to leave a legacy for this country, and instead we got the talking points from industry and we saw the effect and impact of lobbying and of vested interests on public policy.'

Finally, in my last 20 seconds, I really want to thank all the families that have told their stories and have fronted up multiple times now to this parliament. To all the advocates out there, this is a sad day, but the job's not done and we'll continue to push this government and this system to put our kids and our future first.

I move this amendment to the motion for the second reading:

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that the unanimous report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, 'You win some, you lose more: Online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm', chaired by the late Peta Murphy MP, recommended:

(i) in recommendation 26—a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, introduced in four phases over three years,

(ii) in recommendation 16—the prohibition, without delay, of all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising, and

(iii) in recommendation 3—the establishment of national regulation and a national online gambling regulator with the sole purpose of reducing harm and responsibility for all licensing and regulation; and

(b) notes that this bill does not implement these recommendations; and

(c) calls on all parliamentary parties to allow their senators a conscience vote on this bill and any amendments to it, so that senators are free to vote on behalf of the communities they represent, which overwhelmingly expect strong action to protect Australian children from an industry that is grooming them to gamble".