David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Today is a thousand days since Peta Murphy handed your government her landmark review recommending that your government phase in a ban of gambling ads over three years. She did something rare in this place: she brought together members of that committee to make a unanimous recommendation. She brought together Labor, Liberals, Nationals and an Independent. That's hard to do. I understand that the Prime Minister's department has a response ready to go, but it's being held back by the Prime Minister. Why doesn't the Prime Minister want to respond to the Murphy report?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First, I would say that I think we all know how important Peta Murphy's work was and, as a consequence of that report, a lot of action has been taken. You made a number of assertions in your question. I don't agree with them, and I think they're, frankly, unnecessarily personal. But what I would say to you is we do recognise this is a real issue. It is the case, objectively, that we've taken more action than any government since Federation to tackle online gambling harms, and we will continue to act. Until action was taken by the government, for example, betting firms and poker machine companies were able to claim millions of dollars a year in research and development expenses. The government is fixing that. This builds on significant action we have already taken. I know the Prime Minister and other ministers continue to engage across the community on this issue, which is important.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, first supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a long list of achievements. Much of that work was started under the coalition. Not a single recommendation of the Murphy report has been implemented. The thing we keep hearing, as a crossbench, is that it's the Prime Minister who's holding this up. I'm wondering what the Prime Minister's response is that the normalisation of gambling has been happening under the Albanese Labor government's watch. None of the things you've mentioned stop gambling advertising.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My advice—and I know you've been much more focused on this than—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Than the government!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, than I have. We do have an international crisis at the moment. And before that—

An honourable senator interjecting—

No, I'm just saying I personally have not been as engaged as you, but I don't know that your assertions are correct. Suggesting that the government has not done anything—I don't think that is correct at all. Action the government has taken includes banning the use of credit cards for online wagering, establishing mandatory custom ID preverification for online wagering, implementing monthly win/loss statements, strengthening classification of video games that contain gambling-like content and launching the National Self-exclusion Register.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But that's not gambling advertising.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, could I answer his question rather than yours?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've already had a question. You could've asked about this.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've had a question. It didn't go well.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Senator Pocock, second supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I'm asking about the Murphy report. Not a single one of those things was mentioned as a recommendation in the Murphy report. Recent research by Deakin University shows that children themselves are asking the Prime Minister to ban gambling ads, the young Australians who come and watch us. Here's a quote from a 12-year-old boy in New South Wales: 'He's supposed to be responsible for having a good country, but we're making a bad country because of gambling.' Do the voices of children matter to the Prime Minister, and will we see the banning of gambling advertising this term?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I find the way you're personalising this uncomfortable. I think the Prime Minister has demonstrated—it might be good in a social media grab, but I think the Prime Minister has demonstrated—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a serious topic, which is why I think the way the question was framed was unfortunate.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's like blaming Australian motorists.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does anybody want me to answer the question, or are you just going to interject? At the moment, I've got Senator McKenzie, Senator Shoebridge—

Honourable senators interjecting—

I'm trying to answer your question, Senator Pocock.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay, I give up. I can't even get the answer out. I'll talk to you later.