Labor’s gambling ad legislation a ‘capitulation’ to industry lobby, Liberal MP says

Gambling ads would be banned during live sport and at other times under the government’s plans. Photograph: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Gambling ads would be banned during live sport and at other times under the government’s plans. Photograph: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images Labor’s gambling ad legislation a ‘capitulation’ to industry lobby, Liberal MP says Coalition, Greens and crossbenchers all say the planned reforms are too weak and the proposals are ‘half-arsed’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor’s reforms to gambling advertising have been branded a “capitulation” and “half-arsed” by opponents, as the Liberals and Greens combine to urge the government to go further in cracking down on wagering. Three years this week since the Murphy report recommended a full ad ban, Labor’s proposed wagering reforms have underwhelmed the parliament, with the Coalition, Greens and crossbenchers all saying the changes are too weak – making it unclear whether the government’s bill will have enough support to pass into law. Half a dozen Liberals spoke up in their party room meeting on Tuesday, calling for tougher action on gambling. Simon Kennedy, the member for Cook, recounted a personal story about his former school teacher battling wagering harm, including attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings with him. EY sacks graduate employee after he allegedly accessed Australian PM’s bank account Read more “I’ve seen first-hand how gambling has shifted from entertainment to industrial-scale harm for too many Australians. Labor’s legislation is a capitulation to the gambling lobby,” he told Guardian Australia. “It falls short on advertising restrictions, inducements and protections for children and young people. The prime minister should be standing with Australian families, not protecting vested interests.” It comes weeks after 17 Coalition MPs alongside Liberal luminaries John Howard, Jeff Kennett and Nick Greiner signed an open letter, published in newspapers, calling for stronger gambling action. Andrew Wallace, among Liberal MPs who spoke for stronger laws, noted the former opposition leader Peter Dutton’s policy of banning TV ads one hour before and after a sporting match was stronger than the corresponding part of Labor’s policy. He claimed Labor’s plan had “so many holes through it”. “What they’ve produced is a half-arsed way of dealing with some of the damage that gambling causes Australians,” he said. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Labor’s changes, proposed to come into effect from 1 January 2027 , will likely face another Senate inquiry over parliament’s winter break, after concerns from both the gambling industry and harm reduction advocates that the government’s consultation process over the legislation was rushed. The government proposes to restrict gambling ads on TV to no more than three an hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a ban during live sport during those hours; bans on radio ads d