Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) that the video game monetisation mechanic known as 'loot boxes', which generate random digital rewards in exchange for real money, are similar to gambling, and may not be appropriate for younger audiences,

  (ii) that a paper published in Nature Human Behaviour on 18 June 2018, entitled 'Video game loot boxes are psychologically akin to gambling', recommended that games that use loot boxes 'appear to meet both the psychological and legal definitions of gambling' and that 'ratings agencies and gambling regulatory bodies consider restricting access to people of legal gambling age',

  (iii) that, on 20 June 2018, The Netherlands put into effect its ban on loot boxes in video games, and

  (iv) that, on 20 April 2018, the Belgium Gaming Commission and the Dutch Gaming Authority ruled that some loot boxes are gambling; and

(b) calls on the government, in conjunction with state and territory governments, to investigate the use of loot boxes in video games, whether they constitute gambling, and whether they are appropriate for younger audiences.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not oppose this motion. The government agrees that so-called loot boxes in video games raise issues that are worthy of closer examination. Minister Fifield has recently discussed this issue with a number of colleagues. Senator Duniam has lodged a notice of motion to refer this matter to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee for examination. The government looks forward to the Senate supporting this referral tomorrow.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor does not oppose this motion. Labor acknowledges that there is community debate and concern that the loot box feature can normalise spending behaviour in a gaming context and potentially act as a precursor to problem gambling behaviour. Labor notes advice provided on the website of the eSafety Commissioner which states that some online games include loot boxes that a player opens to find what is inside and that can be obtained through Gameplay or bought using in-game currency or real money. Labor notes that research into the impacts on young people of gambling-like elements in games and simulated gambling is in its early stages and that a recent study suggests that for some children playing social casino games leads to an increase in gambling activity while for other children it can reduce interest in real gambling. Finally, Labor acknowledges that this is an area that may benefit from clarification around potential harms, regulatory definitions and regulatory responsibility.

Question agreed to.