Three years after the late Labor MP Peta Murphy called for sweeping gambling reform, her husband has stated that the Albanese government's proposed changes fall well short of what she advocated for.
Murphy's Husband Criticises Inadequate Reforms
Rodney Glanville, the husband of the former member for Dunkley, said the government's current package of measures does not match the urgency or scope of the reforms Murphy championed before her death in December 2023. Murphy, a former criminal barrister, had been a leading voice on gambling harm and chaired a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling.
In a statement issued on Monday, Glanville said: "Peta called for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to gambling reform three years ago. The government's response today falls well short of that vision." He added that the measures lack the teeth needed to curb the $25 billion Australians lose each year on legal forms of gambling.
Details of the Proposed Changes
The government's reform package, announced earlier this week, includes a ban on gambling advertising during live sports broadcasts for one hour before and after games, as well as a prohibition on inducements such as "bonus bets" and "deposit matches." However, the ban does not cover online streaming services or social media platforms, where much gambling advertising now occurs.
According to the Guardian Australia report, the reforms also include a new national self-exclusion register, which will allow individuals to block themselves from all online gambling platforms. The government has allocated $10 million for a public awareness campaign on gambling harm.
However, Glanville noted that the inquiry Murphy chaired had recommended a complete phase-out of gambling advertising within three years, a recommendation the government has not adopted. "The evidence is clear: partial bans do not work. They simply shift advertising to less regulated channels," he said.
Impact on Gambling Harm and Public Health
Public health experts have echoed Glanville's concerns. Professor Samantha Thomas, a gambling researcher at Deakin University, told Guardian Australia that the reforms are "a step in the right direction but insufficient to address the scale of the problem." She pointed to data showing that Australians lose more than $1,500 per adult each year on gambling, the highest per capita rate in the world.
The government's own estimates suggest that the proposed advertising ban will reduce exposure to gambling ads by only 20%, according to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The institute found that 1.2 million Australians are at risk of gambling harm, with 300,000 experiencing severe harm.
Glanville urged the government to revisit the recommendations of the Murphy inquiry, including a mandatory levy on gambling companies to fund treatment and prevention services. "We need action that matches the rhetoric. Peta would not have accepted half-measures, and neither should the Australian people," he said.
