Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026, Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Assistant Minister for Resources and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (17:39): Thanks, Senator Faruqi, for the question. This is the most substantial and strongest ever action that any government has taken in terms of gambling reform.

You can tut-tut all you want, but it's actually the reality of what we are dealing with in terms of this legislation. You did make mention of the Murphy report, which is obviously a substantial bit of work that has gone into influencing the government's decision on this. I am someone who has the highest regard for the late Peta Murphy and the work that she did, and that has been important in terms of influencing government on the decisions that we've taken.

This is part of an extensive consultation where we've listened to a range of views to land the balanced approach that we have in this legislation. Whilst we've heard for a long time that many Australians enjoy having a bet and that it's part of their social life, for others it becomes a trap that they can't escape. That's something that we're dealing with in terms of this legislation.

We understand that there are strongly held views about this issue in the parliament and also around the country, but we believe that this legislation gets the balance right. It implements reform that protects people from gambling harm. It also protects children from overexposure to gambling ads.

We think that that gets the right balance for this parliament to be supportive of. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Ghosh ): Before I call the next question, I need to note that, with the concurrence of the Senate, the statements of reasons accompanying the requests circulated for this bill will be incorporated in Hansard immediately after the requests to which they relate.

There being no objection to that, it is so ordered.