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

Before moving general business notice of motion No. 345, I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Waters will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the 35th edition of the Australian Gambling Statistics, published by the Queensland Government Statistician's Office and released this week, show:

  (i) $24.88 billion was lost by Australians in the year 2017-18,

  (ii) over half of the total gambling losses came from pokies – with $12.52 billion lost, and

  (iii) losses from the sports betting industry grew by 16.3% to $1.2 billion;

(b) further notes the response from Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate, Reverend Tim Costello, that there are direct connections in some instances between gambling harm and family violence and mental ill-health; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to address gambling harm as a public health issue.

Question agreed to.