Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bowed to pressure and agreed to limit gambling inducements as part of a deal between his Labor Party and the Opposition.
Prime Minister Arrives at Consensus With Opposition Leader
The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, Angus Taylor, met in Canberra on Monday to negotiate the deal, a week after explosive revelations that illegal drugs, sex workers, and alcohol had been provided to high-spending gamblers. According to senior government sources, the government is likely to reach a deal with the Coalition to secure enough support in the Senate for the proposed changes. The agreement could include a ban on inducements used by betting companies to encourage people to gamble.
A deal to strengthen Labor’s bill is needed to secure the legislation’s passage through parliament this week. Albanese pledged to introduce limits on inducements designed to keep punters gambling and losing money, while also flagging new restrictions on gambling advertising, although the details of those rules have yet to be revealed.
According to Albanese, the proposed legislation would be the strongest anti-gambling law Australia had ever seen. He said he was confident the legislation would reach the House of Representatives later in the week. He hopes it will include practical amendments aimed at addressing the targeting of gambling advertising, reducing children’s exposure to it, and introducing a comprehensive set of measures to tackle the issue.
The Prime Minister also said action on inducements would strike a balance between allowing people to enjoy a bet once in a while, while also ensuring that problem gambling was properly addressed. Problem gambling has been a growing issue in the country, as according to a recent study, more than 3.3 million Australians have experienced some sort of gambling-related harm.
Not Everyone Will Be Satisfied
As it is common in politics, not everyone will be satisfied with the outcomes, however. Any agreement is likely to anger the Greens and crossbenchers, who have called for much stronger action. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young had earlier urged Taylor to stand firm, delivering a blunt message to the Opposition Leader at a press conference: “Don’t roll over and let the prime minister tickle you on the belly.”
The Greens are pushing for even more far-reaching reforms, making a deal with Taylor the more likely path to securing the bill’s passage. They have called for a complete, phased ban on gambling advertising. Meanwhile, other critics have also raised concerns about loopholes that could allow gambling ads to continue on online and streaming platforms.
In other news from Australia, a recent study found that retirement funds in the country hold over $10 billion in gambling shares, equating to about 1% of the total.