MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Ms CAMPBELL (Moreton) (16:08): I thank the member for Calare for raising this incredibly important issue. To the member before, I say the stories of heartbreak and loss affect me. The stories of heartbreak and loss affect everyone on this side of the chamber.

The stories of heartbreak and loss are those of so many Australians. Australians who have been affected by this include mothers, fathers, friends and work colleagues. I, like so many other Australians, have seen the reports.

I've seen the reports on television. We've seen the reports in the papers. We read about them.

We see them online. These are reports that are upsetting. These are reports that are deeply concerning.

These are reports that are disturbing. I believe that Australians deserve protection when it comes to gambling harm. I believe that we, as a government, must work to reduce gambling harm significantly, particularly online.

I believe that practical action is what's required. It is not enough to simply talk. It is not enough to simply discuss.

What is required is a government that stands up and takes action to bring people with them on reform. What is required is a government that stands up and takes action to ensure that real reform, with tangible and practical outcomes that, every day, impact the lives of those people who are adversely affected by gambling harm, gets done. This is that government.

This is that government because this is a government that has undertaken the most significant reforms when it comes to gambling harm. In the last decade, it has undertaken more reform than we have seen in a very long time. This is a government that took action when we banned the use of credit cards and digital currency for online wagering, because government has a role to play in making sure that online wagering is more difficult for those who are problem gamblers.

This is a government that launched BetStop the National Self-Exclusion Register. As we have heard before, not only have we seen thousands of people self-exclude, but we know that 39 per cent of those people have excluded themselves for life. That's because government has a role to play in making sure that we lend a helping hand when people want and need to stop.

This is a government that forced online wagering companies to send their customers monthly activity statements outlining wins and losses, because we believe that government has a role to play in making sure that gambling companies are accountable to those who use their services. This is a government that has put $31.2 million over five years towards 32 providers for specialist financial counselling for people affected by problem gambling.

This is a government that has introduced new evidence based taglines in wagering and advertising, that has introduced nationally consistent staff training and that has introduced established mandatory customer ID verification for online wagering. This is a government that has introduced new minimum classifications for video games with gambling-like content, because we know that all Australians deserve protection from gambling harm, and young Australians, in particular, deserve protection from predatory practices when it comes to gambling harm.

When it comes to young people, today was the first day—I said this in the Federation Chamber earlier—that I got to drop off my toddler at parliamentary day care. I hope that she has fun. I hope that she enjoys the food.

I hope that she makes friends. Importantly, when it comes to this matter, I hope that, when she and those friends grow up, they think of gambling harm as a distant memory because of governments like this that have not simply talked but taken action. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): The discussion has now concluded.