MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Ms WATSON-BROWN (Ryan) (15:33): Thank you to the member for Calare for bringing this really important MPI. The government is responsible for safeguarding the Australian public from the harms caused by gambling. But how can they seriously consider reform to the gambling industry when they refuse to address the close and unhealthy relationship between the gambling industry and politicians?
Without addressing the insidious influence that corporate donations have on politics and regulators, the Labor government cannot take meaningful action on gambling reform. It's well known how harmful gambling can be to physical and mental health. Australians are the biggest gamblers in the world per capita, and the problem's only getting worse.
Australians recorded the largest gambling losses ever last year, at $31.5 billion. The federal government is responsible for online wagering but doesn't regulate it. We deserve a national regulator to protect Australians from the harm caused by the gambling industry and to monitor the actions of the gambling industry.
It's been more than two years since the Australian parliamentary committee inquiry into online gambling harm released its 31 recommendations to prevent harms, and nothing has been done. So, if you're betting on the government to stand up to the gambling lobby, chances are you're about to lose, because the gambling lobby has more influence on the Labor government's policy than everyday Australians.
Three in four Australians support a total ban—that's three in four Australians supporting a total ban—on gambling ads. Four in five Australians support banning gambling ads on social media, online, in stadiums and on players' uniforms. Nearly four in five Australians agree that Australian government policy should aim to reduce the amount people spend on gambling, and nearly nine in 10 Australians support banning gambling ads during prime-time TV hours for families and children.
So, with a supermajority of Australians in support, what has the Labor government done about gambling reform? Not a thing—zip. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelved gambling reform in the lead-up to the federal election because it would upset media and sports corporations, because the gambling industry has pockets deep enough for politicians to get lost in.
The Labor and Liberal parties are puppets of the gambling industry, coal and gas corporations and property developers, and they're doing everything they can to trick you into thinking there is nothing the government can do to fix these issues. They aren't serving Australians; they're serving corporations. When it comes to gambling reform in Australia, the house always wins.
Eighty-five per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds have seen a gambling ad on TV in the past month, and Australians lost $31.5 billion gambling last year, but the Labor Party refuses to take action on gambling advertisements. Why would that be? Could it have something to do with the Labor and Liberal parties accepting nearly $1.5 million in donations from companies involved in the gambling industry just last year?
Could it have something to do with the Labor Party directly financially benefiting from gambling? The Canberra Labor Club group operates more than 400 gaming machines. The Randwick Labor Club in Sydney operates more than 80 pokie machines.
Could it have something to do with the Labor member for Greenway accepting a $19,000 donation from Sportsbet in the lead-up to the 2022 election—the member who was then appointed as the Minister for Communications, was responsible for considering the ban on gambling advertising and is now the Attorney-General? If you were wondering what the odds are to buy a Labor Party politician, $19,000 seems like a good bet to me.
These are facts. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Member for Ryan, you've cast a very direct imputation on a sitting member right there. Please withdraw.
Ms WATSON-BROWN: I withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.