The Greens have pledged to assist the federal government go laws to restrict playing promoting this week, difficult Labor to enact wagering reforms that have been shelved late final 12 months.
Anthony Albanese promised “we will do more” to stop playing hurt, in a podcast interview printed on Monday, however the prime minister once more downplayed the prospect of fulfilling late Labor MP Peta Murphy’s name for a full playing advert ban.
The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, agreed authorities reforms have been “taking longer than hoped”, however mentioned she was nonetheless working by way of session and coverage processes, seemingly rejecting the Greens’ push.
Guardian Australia can reveal the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Younger wrote to Rowland final week, once more lobbying the federal government to take additional motion.
However in an indication of compromise, Hanson-Younger relented on requires a full advert ban. As an alternative, she provided to amend a Greens invoice to mirror a set of reforms the federal government had reportedly proposed to backbench MPs and trade sources in August final 12 months.
“Like many in the community, we feel frustrated that even a limited reform package from the government has not been released or put to the parliament for consideration. However, all hope is not lost for reform before this year’s election,” Hanson-Younger wrote in a letter to Rowland, seen by the Guardian.
The Greens senator referred to as playing reform “the unfinished business of this parliament”.
The proposed reforms from August, which Albanese and Rowland wouldn’t publicly affirm on the time, reportedly would have banned playing advertisements on-line, in youngsters’s programming, throughout reside sports activities broadcasts together with an hour both facet, and limits of two advertisements per hour usually TV programming.
Guardian Australia reported on the time {that a} Labor backbench caucus committee had heard the proposal, after the 9 newspapers first reported the federal government had floated the suite of adjustments as one coverage possibility.
The proposal had reportedly not gone to cupboard and was not finalised.
Requested in regards to the experiences on the time, Albanese claimed there was a “fair bit of hypothetical about … our alleged position”.
The federal government got here below fireplace after failing to introduce reforms earlier than parliament closed final 12 months.
Main sporting codes and on-line bookmakers had strongly opposed advert bans, whereas Albanese downplayed the difficulty, emphasising the federal government was specializing in different avenues to deal with gambling-related harms, such because the Betstop self-exclusion register.
As Guardian Australia revealed in January, Labor MPs don’t anticipate any additional strikes on playing advertisements earlier than the election, with many believing it was not a top-tier situation for voters.
Hanson-Younger wrote to Rowland final week, providing to water down a Greens invoice calling for a full advert ban – because of be debated on Wednesday. It might as an alternative enact provisions together with banning all playing advertisements on TV and streaming video one hour earlier than and one hour after sporting broadcasts; prohibit on-line playing advertisements solely; and prohibit advertisements throughout applications categorized as child-friendly. Broadcast advertisements can be restricted to 2 an hour in different time slots.
after e-newsletter promotion
Nonetheless the Greens proposal would go additional than the federal government’s proposed August 2024 plan, by prohibiting playing firm logos on sporting floor banners or crew uniforms.
“I believe much of these measures are those which you have previously raised with me as matters you could support. I also believe stakeholders who have been desperate for action will see this as a step forward and a compromise worth taking,” Hanson-Younger wrote to Rowland.
She provided the Greens’ voting assist if the federal government backed the proposal, saying: “Some progress towards a full ban is better than nothing.”
However whereas Rowland indicated in an announcement the federal government wouldn’t take up the Greens’ supply, she steered Labor reforms weren’t but lifeless.
“Advertising reform is complex and the potential impacts on a broad range of stakeholders need to be considered.”
She mentioned the federal government “will only progress legislation to implement online gambling advertising reform when we have concluded our consultation and policy-development process”.
On Monday, in a podcast interview with The Each day Aus, Albanese mentioned Labor had “taken more action on problem gambling than any government since federation”.
“We accept that there’s more to do, and we will do more,” he mentioned.
