The communications minister’s office has apologised to multiple people harmed by the gambling industry after delaying long-awaited advertising reforms, admitting government action has taken “longer than hoped”.
Emails seen by Guardian Australia shows Michelle Rowland’s office “can’t confirm a revised timeframe” for when it will formally respond to a report from the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which called for a total wagering ad ban some 18 months ago.
“I acknowledge the ongoing toll this is taking on you and others, and I’m personally very sorry that we have not been able to secure an outcome thus far,” a staffer for the minister said in an email.
“As a general observation though, I would note that decisions of this type require the support of the PM and Cabinet – ie, it’s not enough for a Minister to have formed a view.”
The staff member, who Guardian Australia has chosen not to name, was replying to a query from Mark Kempster, who has campaigned for wagering changes as part of the Alliance for Gambling Reform group. Kempster, who has battled gambling addiction, made a submission to Murphy’s inquiry calling for all gambling advertising to be removed from Australian TV, and banning the targeting of customers with promotion material.
Kempster wrote to Rowland’s office on Monday, saying he “can not really fathom how this has been delayed again”. His email came days after the government confirmed the gambling reforms would not be introduced this year – less than a week after Rowland herself had told the ABC in a television interview that she was planning on revealing Labor’s plans by the end of 2024.
“The effect the constant delays is having on all of us who gave evidence as Peta’s inquiry is taking a massive toll on us. To wait up to 20 months for any type of response and actions surely can not be acceptable,” Kempster wrote.
On Wednesday, a staff member in Rowland’s office responded, writing: “You’re right that we had committed to finalising our decision and making a public announcement on online wagering advertising reform by the end of the year.”
“Any changes to legislation, etc would then be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity next year,” the staffer wrote.
“However, it now seems as though we won’t be in a position to do this and I can’t confirm a revised timeframe. I appreciate that this is really frustrating and hard to understand.”
Rowland’s staffer conceded “this process is taking longer than hoped” but said the government was focusing on “ensuring that reforms are effective and comprehensive”, as well as building on previously-announced reforms.
The staffer sent a near-identical email to another gambling harm advocate who also queried the government’s delay.
The government has not given a specific reason for not having yet responded to the Murphy report, but the sport minister, Anika Wells, said on Monday that sporting codes’ financial viability was a factor in Labor concluding its proposed gambling ad cap “wasn’t ready to go”.
Rowland’s staffer, in the email to Kempster, said they acknowledged “the ongoing toll this is taking on you and others, and I’m personally very sorry that we have not been able to secure an outcome thus far.”
Guardian Australia contacted the offices of Rowland and Anthony Albanese for comment.
In a statement, Rowland confirmed the legislation would not be introduced this year, and that the government was “continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders.”
“As we have seen in the past bad policy designs leads to bad outcomes. It is important we take the time to get these reforms right,” she said.
Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said in a press conference on Wednesday that the government should act.
“Within the prime minister’s power is the opportunity to simply say, we are implementing the Murphy report. Eighteen months on, this is a failure,” he said.
“It takes backbone to protect children in this nation against very powerful vested interests. The failure to show that backbone has let Australians down.”
The opposition communications spokesperson, David Coleman, claimed on Sunday that Albanese was “scared” of touching gambling reform, and the advocates on both sides of the debate.
“He’s scared of anti-gambling advocates like Tim Costello. He’s scared of the AFL, he’s scared of the NRL. He’s scared of the media companies. So what does he do? He cowers in the corner and does nothing,” Coleman claimed.
