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 DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (18:44): It doesn't seem like the government's very clear about the aims. We hear these talking points that you read out, but it doesn't seem like there's much of an aim there. Maybe I'll read out what Minister Wells said the aims of these reforms were in her press release: The Bill delivers on the Albanese Government's commitment to break the connection between gambling and sport, minimising children's exposure to wagering advertising and stopping the saturation of wagering ads on radio, TV and online.

Could you tell the Senate how this bill breaks the connection between gambling and sport when we will see gambling ads on sport after 8.30 pm, we'll see gambling ads during sport replays and we'll see gambling ads during sport if Australian teams are playing in world cups overnight and millions of Australians are potentially waking up to cheer on their favourite team.

The NRL and AFL will continue to receive commissions on bets placed on those sports. How does this reform break the connection between gambling and sport? That's a huge claim.