Here's what's set to change as gambling and 'widow tax' reforms partly greenlit

Contentious gambling reforms, including restrictions on incentives and a national register to opt out of online gambling ads, are set to pass after Labor and the Coalition struck a deal.

The Labor caucus approved the deal on Tuesday morning, after the government made several amendments to secure Coalition support.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the reforms would protect those most at risk of harm.

"Australians will be better protected from inducements and direct marketing," he told parliament.

But gambling reform advocates have been critical of the bill, which was passed in the lower house with 96 votes to nine. It will be debated in the upper house and is expected to be passed this week.

Among them were two Coalition MPs — Pat Conaghan and Andrew Wallace — who crossed the floor and joined the independents to vote against the laws. Both have spoken out, saying the laws don't go far enough.

"I don't like gambling. The reality is $36 billion is lost on gambling each and every single year. That's $95 million a day that is lost to gambling in Australia," Wallace told News24.

"I've never crossed the floor in 10 years in my parliamentary career but I've just heard too many stories of my constituents and people across Australia who have lost everything, who have sometimes lost their lives."

The agreement between the government and Opposition means the Coalition will also support changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in exchange for Labor expediting a push to remove a so-called widow's tax which was part of tax changes in the May budget.

What are the gambling amendments?

More than a dozen amendments were made, including:

• A gambling advertising blackout extended to 15 minutes before games
• A ban on ads during children's programming
• A start time on 'three-per-hour' broadcast restrictions moving from 6am to 5am
• Banning direct marketing for 14 days after signing up to a betting company
• Banning direct marketing to high-risk customers
• Banning direct marketing for 90 days after a person deregisters from BetStop
• Ban commissions for any staff or affiliates of gambling companies
• Mirroring live sport restrictions for broadcast to online services
• The establishment of a register, allowing Australians to opt out of seeing online gambling ads. The register will be made up by betting companies

The laws will be reviewed three years after they take effect.

Who are the reforms' supporters and critics?

Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government had listened to the community and taken steps to address the "most toxic version of inducements".

"The reforms introduced to parliament represent the most significant reforms to online gambling in Australia’s history," she said.

"This package of reforms minimises children’s exposure to wagering advertising, takes action on predatory inducements and cracks down on illegal gambling operators."

Opposition communications spokesperson Sarah Henderson claimed the amendments were a win for the Coalition.

"Labor's bill simply did not go far enough to protect children and vulnerable Australians," she said.

"Sport time is family time and our amendments strengthen those protections."

The gambling reforms are the first in the three years since a landmark report by late Labor MP Peta Murphy, who called for a total phase-out of gambling ads.

A Senate committee report on the proposed changes was tabled on Monday night, criticising the government's reforms as being too little, too late.

It contained criticism from the Coalition, the Greens, and independent senator David Pocock, and pointed out that many of the Murphy report's recommendations were not included in the legislation.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young slammed the major party leaders for "throwing Peta Murphy's legacy out the door".

"And what have we got from the leader of the Opposition? 'Oh, okay, prime minister, whatever you say, prime minister.' I mean, how pathetic," she said.

Hanson-Young said Opposition leader Angus Taylor had blindly followed the prime minister, likening him to Albanese's dog Toto.

Albanese thanked the "parliament for coming together on this issue".

The Greens had called for a complete ban on online gambling advertising and the establishment of a national regulator, both of which have not been included.

Pocock, a longstanding gambling reform advocate, accused the government of backing in gambling companies and shafting the Australian public.

"It is no surprise where ... we have a Labor Party tie itself in knots for three years ... and then they get Angus Taylor to negotiate one-on-one with the PM and come to some sort of gentlemen's agreement," he told the Senate.

Closing of a 'widow tax' loophole

Labor and the Coalition also reached an agreement to remove a so-called widow tax, which would have caused divorcees and widows to lose negative gearing entitlements on investment properties.

The loophole was included in the federal government's budget tax reform.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers had agreed to close it, but not until later in the year.

That has been brought forward under an agreement with the Coalition, who will support Labor's bill to slash spending on the NDIS.

— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.

Readers seeking support for gambling concerns can contact the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information is available at www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

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