Labor's offer to negotiate contentious gambling reforms has reignited calls for the government to commit to a full ban on betting ads.
Under the federal government's proposed legislation, gambling ads on TV would be limited to no more than three per hour between 6am and 8.30pm and be banned from live sport broadcasts.
Stadiums and player jerseys are also captured by the legislation, but the government has been criticised for not implementing a total ban, as recommended in a report by late Labor MP Peta Murphy in 2023.
Her You Win Some, You Lose More report explicitly states "partial bans on gambling advertising do not work", warning harmful industries will capitalise on loopholes.
After Communications Minister Anika Wells backed reforms earlier on Thursday, Greens Senator Barbara Pocock said they would introduce the exact loopholes Ms Murphy warned of.
"They don't deal with the essential recommendations of the Murphy report," she said.
"Most Australians want to see gambling ads off our TV, and we have to honour the enormous losses of too many Australian families, parents, mothers and fathers who have lost their children to gambling."
The senator accused the government of creating legislation which only protects the interests of betting agencies and broadcasters relying on the advertising revenue.
The communications minister played down speculation the government could ditch its gambling reforms instead of collaborating on changes.
Labor's proposed laws has also been condemned by the coalition, making it very unlikely the bill could pass the senate without major changes.
Ms Wells said the reforms were "some ways off" from being abandoned altogether, saying it was normal for there to be pushback to the changes.
"This is rolling along exactly as any other piece of legislation normally does," Ms Wells told reporters in Brisbane.
Some independent MPs seized on the opportunity to call for recommendations from the Murphy report as a part of negotiations including lower house MP Kate Chaney.
Ms Chaney is one of only two non-Labor members of the Murphy inquiry still in politics and is again advocating for a national regulator and a full ban on gambling advertising and inducements when parliament returns.
It comes as the peak body for gambling companies has sought to clarify evidence provided to a Senate inquiry into the changes.
Earlier in the week, former NRL player Luke Bateman shared his experience of being offered free illicit drugs, alcohol and trips across the country aged 23 as a form of coercion from betting agencies to keep gambling.
Reports surfaced on Thursday that he worked for a NSW bookmaker offering inducements two years later.
Responsible Wagering Australia chief Kai Cantwell told ABC Radio that was a "clear conflict", which should have been disclosed before Mr Bateman gave evidence.
