The Federal Parliament delivered a rare display of bipartisan co-operation last week. The government and opposition successfully negotiated the passage of three significant pieces of legislation. This united front secured reforms to gambling advertising, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and national security laws.
While the Greens and some crossbenchers contested all three bills, the major parties demonstrated a willingness to compromise to pass the bills through the Senate.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill represents a major shift in advertising regulations. The original legislation faced criticism from anti-gambling advocates, while the Coalition demanded stricter protections. To secure support, the government agreed to significant amendments. These include establishing the AdStop register, allowing Australians to opt out of online gambling advertisements. The laws ban predatory inducements and prohibit wagering companies from paying staff commissions linked to customer losses.
The legislation explicitly bans gambling advertisements during children's programming and extends the blackout period before live sports broadcasts. Although some argue these reforms fall short, the new laws provide crucial safeguards.
Parliament also passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill to ensure the scheme's long-term sustainability. The legislation introduces a revised framework for participant planning and ties eligibility assessments closely to functional capacity. Unscheduled plan reassessments will now require significant, ongoing changes to a participant's living arrangements or support needs.
The NDIS reforms are essential for the government to meet its budget targets and manage a program that has expanded rapidly since its inception.
The government and the Coalition also united to pass the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill. This expands the compulsory questioning and detention powers of the security agency. While minor parties view any extension of surveillance powers with alarm, the reforms broadly align with community expectations following the Bondi tragedy.
The Greens reacted with anger. They accused the major parties of bypassing the crossbench to serve corporate interests. The minor party labelled the gambling legislation a protection racket, criticising the major parties for protecting political donations over evidence-based policy.
The Greens also condemned the rapid passage of the ASIO and NDIS changes, arguing Labor compromised its progressive values to secure quick legislative victories.
This week's outcomes highlight a broader political reality. The willingness of Labor and the Coalition to negotiate sound policy throws down a gauntlet to both One Nation and the Greens. It reinforces the status of the major parties as the legitimate parties of government, not voices for grievance.
Is it possible the Coalition recognises it cannot defeat the One Nation challenge by following it down the populist rabbit hole? It has far more to gain by presenting itself as a political grouping that values good policy over self-serving, carping rhetoric.
The benefits for Labor are equally clear. The government faces threats from the Greens on the left and One Nation on the right.
Labor arguably shares more common ground with a centre-right Coalition than either political extreme. While the teals are also obvious allies, the government's overwhelming numbers in the lower house render them irrelevant.
Delivering results is the best strategy for both Labor and the Coalition.
