Freedom of Information disclosures show the government favouring Big Media and Big Gambling in lobbying battle to nix gambling ads reform. Rex Patrick reports.
It was recently revealed the Albanese Government insisted that organisations and groups being consulted on gambling advertising reform had to sign a draconian non-disclosure agreement before the Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland would talk with them.
It turns out that this was the only scandalous aspect of the government’s handling of this important issue. Freedom of Information disclosures reveal …
Australians spend more per capita on legal forms of gambling than in any other country, losing $25 billion every year.
Australians also lose the most money to online gambling per capita in the world.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland knows the harm gambling causes to gamblers’ physical and mental health (sometimes leading to suicide). She knows their partners and children suffer. Gambling is a very large industry trading in misery.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority found that $238.6 million was spent on gambling advertising on free‐to‐air TV, metropolitan radio and online (including social media) between May 2022 and April 2023.
Over two thirds (69%) of Australians believe that gambling advertising is too common.
Opportunity for Change
The House of Representatives inquiry, You win some, you lose more, chaired by the late Peta Murphy, a Labor MP with a lively social conscience, and handed down more than 12 months ago was hoped to be a turning point.
Gambling advertising reforms emerged has a key priority from the Inquiry. There is widespread community, political and academic concern about the impact of wagering advertisements, their close association with sports, and the normalisation of gambling for children and young people.
But we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for media outlets, and flowing from that, a major source of funding to sports organisations from media rights.
It’s big business revenue versus misery imposed upon gamblers and their families.
Marinated ministers
Of course, it’s appropriate for ministers to consult stakeholders prior to major decisions and implementation on any reform.
But a brand-new Freedom of Information release that dropped this week shows the whole consultation process is a hugely lopsided affair. And it won’t take much to guess who has been getting all of the attention.
One on One Engagement with Minister Rowland (Source; FOI)
Minister Rowland is not engaging those suffering from serious financial, legal, family and relationship consequences, or health and psychological harms, or homelessness.
As one anti-gambling advocate stated to MWM, “Albo and Rowland are marinated in gambling culture”.
Questions in the Parliament
This week in parliament, independent MP Zoe Daniels asked of the Prime Minister at question time;
In the gallery today, we have several people who have tried to meet with you and your ministers to tell you how gambling addiction has ruined their lives. They say that gambling ads constantly triggered them to gamble, and they’re asking you to ban all gambling ads to stop the normalisation of gambling, especially for children. Prime Minister, why have you engaged directly with those who profit from gambling but not with these people, and what do you have to say to them as they sit here today?
The Prime Minister’s answer was a bit cryptic.
I was with [Zoe Daniels] last night. She’s fully aware of where I’ve been and fully aware of who I’ve been with today. So I reject the assertion that I won’t meet with people. The last person I met with on this issue was Tim Costello ten days ago.
Reverend Tim Costello, Chief Advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform was the principled member that stood up to the Government’s attempts to wrap their consultations in secrecy, telling the Government he would not meet with them under silence conditions.
Extract from Non-Disclosure Agreement (Source: FOI)
After adverse media reporting on 7 August, an embarrassed Government backed down and Costello met with ministerial advisers (not the Minister though) on 14 August.
Political points
Another unusual thing revealed by the freedom of information request was that ‘talking points’ in the brief provided by the Department to Minister Rowland were left blank for the minister to fill in.
DYI Talking Points (Source: FOI)
Normally, policy is developed by the Department and the Department would provide recommended talking points. The lack of Departmental input alludes to the fact that this is a political ‘hot potato’ where the answers won’t be derived from policy analysis, rather from purely political calculations in the ministerial wing of Parliament House.
No wonder the big-end-of-town is lining up at Rowland’s ministerial suite. And too bad for those suffering from and enduring the scourge of gambling.
Finally, don’t expect much real information to flow from our FOI laws. The real information is marinated in the Albanese Government’s secrecy sauce.
Documents Refused in Full (Source: FOI)
Murphy Report on gambling reform delayed by sports bet lobby
Rex Patrick is a former Senator for South Australia and earlier a submariner in the armed forces. Best known as an anti-corruption and transparency crusader, Rex is running for the Senate on the Lambie Network ticket next year - www.transparencywarrior.com.au.