Stirling Griff (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Kakoschke-Moore and Xenophon, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) more than $800 million was lost by Australians on legal sports betting in the 2014-15 financial year, an increase of more than 30 per cent from 2013-14,

  (ii) while some restrictions on gambling advertising exist, there is an exemption that allows gambling advertising during televised sporting events at children's viewing times,

  (iii) research shows that children are especially susceptible to such advertising, and

  (iv) there is a pressing need to ban gambling advertising particularly during children's viewing times;

(b) calls on the Government to amend the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to ban gambling advertising during sporting broadcasts during children's viewing times; and

(c) further notes community concern about the recent increased level of gambling advertising on the Special Broadcasting Service, and calls on the Minister for Communications to issue a directive under section 11 of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 to limit the amount of such advertising.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not support this motion. We are taking strong action to implement a stronger national consumer protection framework for online gambling. We are working with the states and territories, and will shortly introduce legislation to implement the government's response to the review of illegal offshore wagering conducted by the Hon. Barry O'Farrell. Gambling advertising is regulated under a co-regulatory framework through codes of practice enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The government supports this co-regulatory framework as the best of way of ensuring that advertising is in keeping with community standards. Finally, the government does not agree that the Minister for Communications can issue a direction in the terms described by part (c) of this motion.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Griff be agreed to.