Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) according to research published by the Australian Centre for Gambling Studies in 2015, it was estimated that 574,000 Australian adults regularly wagered on sports,

(ii) 41% of all regular sports bettors – 234,000 adults – experienced one or more gambling problems in 2015,

(iii) in a typical month, 46 cents in every dollar spent on sports betting by regular sports bettors came from a person with moderate to severe gambling problems who continue to gamble despite the dire impact it may have on their lives,

(iv) Australians lose a combined $4.3 billion betting on sports and racing each year,

(v) online wagering is the fastest-growing form of gambling, with 15% growth each year,

(vi) the current patchwork approach to online sports betting regulation is failing consumers and requires a strong national approach, and

(vii) the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, in 2018, introduced a Social Responsibility Code as part of its licensing regime, which includes provisions to combat problem gambling – many of the same licensees are licensed in Australia, and Financial Counselling Australia is calling for the same provisions to be introduced in Australia; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

(i) introduce legislation to implement an Online Gambling Consumer Protection Framework, as a matter of urgency,

(ii) introduce legislation to establish a National Self-Exclusion register, as a matter of urgency,

(iii) within the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 , include a positive duty on online gambling industry providers to ensure their services are provided responsibly, by way of a Social Responsibility Code akin to the United Kingdom provisions, and

(iv) appoint a National Online Wagering Regulator.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Liberal-National government has a strong record on online gambling reform, noting that gambling regulation is primarily a function of the state and territory governments. The Commonwealth has been working cooperatively with the states and territories to implement a new national consumer protection framework for online wagering following the O'Farrell review into illegal offshore wagering, which this government commissioned. We have already passed one tranche of legislation, and there is more work to do. The Commonwealth will continue working in partnership with the states and territories to ensure a responsible regulatory framework for online wagering.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor believes well-regulated gambling has a place in Australian society and acknowledges the need for appropriate harm-minimisation measures to protect children and problem gamblers. That is why Labor supported stronger consumer protection initiatives in response to the O'Farrell review, including amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act and the introduction of a national consumer protection framework. Labor supports the intent of this motion. However, in view of the work currently in train across government, including on a national self-exclusion scheme, Labor is not in a position to support it at this time but urges the government to release the new framework without delay.

Question negatived.