Australia’s had two more years of gambling ad harm since the Murphy report. It’s time for Labor to show some courage

‘When pressed on his reticence to implement a full ban [on gambling ads], Anthony Albanese has repeatedly implied that gambling is part of Australian culture. That’s disingenuous.’ Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Two years ago this week the Murphy report was delivered to the government, recommending the banning of gambling ads. And for two years the Albanese government has failed to act in the face of pressure from vested interests. Over those two years Australians have gambled away another $60bn.

In June 2023 the Labor MP Peta Murphy said: “Australians are the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling. We have a culture where sport and gambling are intrinsically linked. These behaviours are causing increasingly widespread and serious harm to individuals, families and communities.”