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) (19:11): But, Minister, surely you concede that Australians are concerned when they hear the Prime Minister essentially parroting industry talking points, and there is no researcher in the country that can point to research that can justify that. And then we hear on Radio National, who provide a great service in this country, an interview with the founder of Paddy Power, Stewart Kenny.

When he was asked about this argument that the Prime Minister and Responsible Wagering Australia have been putting forward that has been absolutely panned by researchers, he said, and I'll quote him because I think it's worth getting it into Hansard: 'I used that argument all the time when I was lobbying. I was the main lobbyist in Ireland. I knew all the politicians.

That was the first line I always used. As an industry we've been using that argument for 20, 30, 40 years. But look at Spain.

They put in a blanket ban and there was virtually no pick-up in the illegal offshore market. This is a load of baloney. I used to use it all the time.' Minister, is the government misleading the Australian people with a load of baloney and giving us talking points that really aren't backed up by any evidence?