A wise philosopher once said: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, know when to run.”
Going into the spring parliamentary session after the long winter break, the Albanese government is far from walking away or running from its wagering reforms – but after developments on Sunday that it was now open to amendments on gambling inducements, it might be thinking about folding after earlier committing to holding.
There is a packed agenda for this sitting fortnight, even with no parliament on Monday as politicians return to the capital after a five-week break. Long-awaited NDIS changes are expected to be brought on for debate next week after an inquiry report lands on Friday, Tony Burke’s immigration reforms are likely to be unveiled this week or next, and consultation on the government’s next tranche of tax reforms will continue.
Sign up for the Breaking News Australia emailBut it will be the gambling changes from the communications minister, Anika Wells, that are likely to take political centre stage, with all the high-stakes dealing and bluffing that go along with it.
Labor still believe they have the balance right, between addressing gambling harms while not overly harming the media companies and sporting codes which they say rely on gambling ads and revenue. But with the Senate maths once again against Labor, expect a deal with the Coalition to come into play.
Government sources said they were less likely to entertain changes to ad frequency rules, but would be open to making deals on inducements like bonus bets and promotional odds.
However, advocates for change are warning that a lobbying campaign is starting up behind the scenes, with the gambling industry and some media companies warning parliamentarians about the consequences of further tightening rules. The peak wagering body has already raised opposition to amendments, and while outlets like Guardian Australia don’t take gambling ad money, there are legitimate concerns about the impact on media companies which do rely on that revenue stream.
Ironically, the Coalition and crossbench may be about to push the government from an electorally unpopular position – defending wagering companies’ right to bombard Aussies with ads for same-game multis – into a more popular one, of taking stronger action on a social scourge.
That’s the kind of inducement bonus that should be taken up.
Movement on gambling inducements would be welcome, after startling evidence in Senate hearings last week that some betting companies provided problem gamblers with illicit drugs and sex workers as enticements to keep wagering. Peta Murphy’s landmark parliamentary report called for an immediate ban on “all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising”, something which was absent from the government’s draft reforms.
If amendments on this issue are agreed, credit should be given for Labor – however belatedly – backflipping after public outcry.
But Greens and Coalition sources are livid that more is not being done about advertising rules, which harm-reduction advocates say are worse than the status quo, allowing three ads an hour on TV until 8.30pm and potentially permitting more ads on streaming services – where Australians are increasingly watching sport – than currently permitted.
Streaming services and online spaces would be covered by a so-called “triple lock” feature, where gambling ads would only be allowed if a user is logged in and their age verified, and an “opt-out” feature offered.
But expect changes to online ads, including potentially switching to an “opt-in” model for gambling ads, to be among reforms proposed by opponents in parliament this week.
No amendments are yet guaranteed, but the negotiations are a stark change from the last sitting day before the break, when Anthony Albanese warned the alternative to Labor’s plan could be the government walking away altogether.
“This is a major step forward, and the parliament should vote for it. If they don’t, then they do have the option of the status quo,” he said.
Wells, asked on Thursday about those remarks, said the PM’s words were “some weeks ago now, and I’d say we’re some ways off that yet”, noting her “constructive discussions” with the Coalition and Greens.
“We’d love to see this passed,” Wells said.
That bluff, that the government would walk away, may not have worked; at the least, their opponents are willing to call it. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young on Sunday warned the non-government members could “take this out of your hands and do it in the Senate ourselves”.
It wouldn’t be the first time Labor has lost control of the agenda in the Senate, where it doesn’t control the numbers – but it creates an opportunity. Because for all the bluffing and calling going on, everyone involved knows that walking away is the worst option available.
Labor knows doing nothing is not an option. The Coalition and Greens are on board to take stronger action. The government should call their opponents, take the opportunity for stronger action, and stand up from the gambling table with an electorally popular win.
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Josh Butler is a political reporter and the Canberra bureau chief of staff
