The Greens have labelled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gutless in tackling gambling, in a swift reaction to his partial advertisement ban.
Albanese announced the highly anticipated reforms to combat harms from gambling — which costs Australians $32 billion in losses each year — during a National Press Club address on Thursday.
They include a restriction on television ads to three times an hour from 6pm to 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sports.
Anti-gambling advocates have been calling for a full gambling advertisement ban since the recommendation by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy in her landmark report in 2023.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has criticised the prime minister for not enforcing a complete advertising ban.
"Where we know the real harm is being done is online, and we need a complete ban of online advertising gambling," she told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
"Trying to pretend that you can keep young people away from the harms of gambling advertising online is just laughable."
She pointed to a complete advertising ban on the tobacco industry, acknowledging that the "dangerous and harmful product", like gambling, hurts people.
The senator said the prime minister "hasn't even had the guts to take on the gambling industry and put in place the national regulator".
The 'You win some, you lose more' review made 31 recommendations when the report was handed down in 2023, with the Albanese government since implementing a self-exclusion register and banning credit card use for gambling.
On Thursday, Albanese also unveiled a radio advertising ban during school pick-up and drop-off hours, an online ad ban for users under 18 years old and the addition of an opt-out feature on betting accounts.
The government will legislate the changes imminently, which are expected to begin from 1 January 2027.
Advocates and independent senator David Pocock called any plan outside a full ban "half-arsed".
PM defends 'significant' gambling reforms
Minutes after the gambling reforms were announced, the prime minister was pressed about why the recommendations of the Murphy report had not been adopted in full.
This includes addressing harm minimisation, a levy to fund online gambling and a national regulator.
"Government can be informed by committees, but the government determines positions," he said.
Albanese has defended the government's position, stating a full response to the report will be delivered when parliament returns in May.
"Some of it is about the Murphy report, but the Murphy report isn't when it started and ended," he said.
The PM said he thinks his party has the "balance right", saying these are significant reforms, including halving the number of ads.
"It's the most, to be clear, significant reform on gambling that has ever been implemented."
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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