Labor’s gambling ad legislation a ‘capitulation’ to industry lobby, Liberal MP says
Guardian AU
•Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:27:20 GMT
📰 What Happened
Labor's proposed gambling advertising reforms have been widely criticised as too weak, with the Coalition, Greens, and crossbenchers all calling for tougher action. The reforms, unveiled three years after the Murphy report recommended a full advertising ban, would ban gambling ads during live sport and at other times but fall short of a complete prohibition. Liberal MP Simon Kennedy described the legislation as a 'capitulation to the gambling lobby', while others labelled the proposals 'half-arsed'. Half a dozen Liberals spoke up in their party room meeting calling for tougher action, with Kennedy recounting a personal story about his former school teacher battling wagering harm. The lack of clear support for the bill leaves its passage through parliament uncertain.
🔍 The Backstory
The Murphy report, released in 2023, recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising in Australia, citing the immense social harm caused by problem gambling. Three years on, the government's proposed response has disappointed advocates who had hoped for full implementation. Australia's gambling industry is a powerful lobby, with sports organisations, media companies, and betting agencies all heavily invested in the current advertising regime.
🎯 Why It Matters
Australia has one of the highest rates of gambling losses per capita in the world, and the failure to pass meaningful reform despite the 2023 Murphy report's recommendations represents a significant policy failure. The cross-party criticism suggests the government may need to strengthen the bill significantly to secure passage.
Labor's proposed gambling advertising reforms have been widely criticised as too weak, with the Coalition, Greens, and crossbenchers all calling for tougher action. The reforms, unveiled three years after the Murphy report recommended a full advertising ban, would ban gambling ads during live sport and at other times but fall short of a complete prohibition. Liberal MP Simon Kennedy described the legislation as a 'capitulation to the gambling lobby', while others labelled the proposals 'half-arsed'. Half a dozen Liberals spoke up in their party room meeting calling for tougher action, with Kennedy recounting a personal story about his former school teacher battling wagering harm. The lack of clear support for the bill leaves its passage through parliament uncertain.
The Murphy report, released in 2023, recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising in Australia, citing the immense social harm caused by problem gambling. Three years on, the government's proposed response has disappointed advocates who had hoped for full implementation. Australia's gambling industry is a powerful lobby, with sports organisations, media companies, and betting agencies all heavily invested in the current advertising regime.
Australia has one of the highest rates of gambling losses per capita in the world, and the failure to pass meaningful reform despite the 2023 Murphy report's recommendations represents a significant policy failure. The cross-party criticism suggests the government may need to strengthen the bill significantly to secure passage.