Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I table an explanatory memorandum and move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

I rise today in favour of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban Gambling Ads) Bill 2024, the Australian Greens' Bill which will implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of online gambling advertising across television, radio, online and print.

Gambling causes enormous harm to our communities, with Australians losing up to $32 billion annually—the highest per capita losses in the world.

Advertising only fuels these losses, normalising the practice of gambling across our screens. In just one year, one million gambling ads were aired on free-to-air television and radio—and that's not to mention the exponential rise in targeted ads across social media and online platforms. People are sick of having gambling ads rammed down their throats—Australians love sport, yet it is not possible to follow these important cultural events without being assaulted by ads, odds or betting commentary.

These ads and inducements fuel addiction and cause devastating social harm—not just financial loss, but health and mental health issues, family violence and breakup, and suicide. Young people are particularly vulnerable and gambling companies prey on this vulnerability, reaching children through social media and grooming them to be gamblers. Research showed that up to one third of young people may be gambling before the age of 18.

The harm this causes to Australian communities is a national social and health issue, and must be treated as such. This is what we did by implementing a tobacco advertising ban, and this is what this Bill seeks to do on gambling.

A comprehensive ban will help to stop the onslaught of gambling advertising that encourages risky betting behaviours, and lessen its harms on our communities. Such a ban has been time and time again recommended by experts, and there is wide public support. It is what the community expects.

The Parliamentary Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising with a phase in approach, which received cross-party support. The passage of this Bill would implement a staged ban, as per this recommendation. If the major parties showed similar support to the Inquiry recommendations, this ban could be enacted immediately.

Yet the Albanese Labor Government has since backed away from a full ban on gambling advertising, proving where their true loyalties lie—with the cashed-up gambling lobby and some of the big media companies and major sporting codes. Almost two years have passed since the Murphy inquiry, and despite many promises made, all there is to show for it is a suggestion of watered-down legislation to implement a partial ban on gambling advertising.

The evidence has long been clear—partial bans don't work. While gambling advertising remains on our televisions, in our newspapers, and on our phones, addiction will continue to wreck lives, communities and our kids' futures.

It will be extremely disappointing if the major parties continue to show they don't have the guts to stand up to the gambling lobby. Australians will wonder whether a dinner with Sportsbet or a free ticket to the Melbourne Cup is worth more than the lives of their kids. Gambling ads are crucial to the bookies' business model as they fuel the human misery of problem gambling—but we as decision makers must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of Australians over the wellbeing of the gambling lobby.

Who are the major parties trying to protect? The bookies, or our kids? The public has had enough of the excuses and political donations. The power and dirty donations of the gambling lobby cannot be allowed to infect our democracy and put our kids in harm's way any longer.

I call on the Parliament to support this Bill and ban gambling advertising in Australian communities.

I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.