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 McLACHLAN (South Australia) (19:41): This is not a question directed to the minister; it's just a reflection on the debate in committee at this point in time. I know my calls to oppose these bills will fall on deaf ears because the die is cast, but I think it's a lost opportunity. I'm not convinced in any way by the argument that something is better than nothing.

This is, as I said, a real lost opportunity to regulate. I ask senators to reflect: why does the industry need the ability to have incentives? Why does the industry need to advertise?

It's because its business model is predatory and designed to facilitate addiction, which is why I'm voting against these bills. I don't think these bills seek to regulate; I think they seek to facilitate. This industry is founded on the darkest practices known to corporate Australia.

Tonight you stand with either the faith based organisations that live and work in the community, based on compassion and love, or the faceless board members that are counting their cash flows and their investor returns. That, for me, is the simpler choice this evening—the moral choice. When I vote on the third reading, I'll have one thing on my mind—the children of Australia.