Independents seek fresh look at gambling

Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie are seeking support for a ban on gambling ads during sports broadcasts, as well as for $1 pokies bets.

Federal independent Andrew Wilkie

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has proposed an annual audit of politicians' work expenses. (AAP)

Independent MPs have launched a new push for tougher regulation to tackle problem gambling, but the industry insists self-regulation needs time to work.

Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie have joined with social justice campaigner Tim Costello to seek a ban on gambling advertising during TV sports broadcasts and to mandate $1 pokies bets.

Mr Wilkie said self-regulation had failed and the TV networks needed to be told to ditch gambling advertising during sports broadcasts and children's viewing timeslots.

"I talk as the father of a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old ... I don't want them to watch the footy on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon because they will be bombarded with advertising," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

"The community knows it's wrong. But the Liberal party and Labor party have refused to act."

The Australian Wagering Council said it recognised advertising promoting betting came with responsibilities.

The council supported the July 1 start of a new marketing code for betting ads, specific rules banning advertising to minors, the siren-to-siren ban on live odds during broadcasts and the ban on gambling advertising during live play in sports broadcasts.

"We want open discussion on how best to address these concerns," AWC chief Ian Fletcher said.

Mr Costello, who compared gambling to drug addiction, said self-regulation was nonsensical.

"It's as nonsensical as saying seat belts should be voluntary, brakes in cars should be voluntary."

Senator Xenophon and Mr Wilkie are also seeking the revival of a former parliamentary committee to look at gambling, as well as $1 maximum bets and $120 maximum losses for poker machines.

A Productivity Commission report found 95,000 of the 600,000 Australians who play the pokies once a week are problem gamblers.

The problem players accounted for 40 per cent of the $12 billion a year spent on machines.

"This first and foremost is a human story ... every one of those problem gamblers is a mum or a dad or brother or sister or son or a daughter or friend or work colleague," Senator Xenophon said.

The Nick Xenophon Team is expected to have three senators and a lower house MP in the new parliament.

Mr Wilkie, who retained his Tasmanian seat of Denison at the election, could also play a key role in the narrowly held lower house.

Labor frontbencher Brendan O'Connor said he wanted to see more detail of what the independents were proposing.

"We understand that gambling is a pursuit Australians like to engage in, but we also know that it can be a scourge for too many Australians," Mr O'Connor told reporters in Canberra.

The Greens will bring to parliament a bill to ban the promotion and advertising of sports betting in the same way tobacco ads were banned in 1992.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said in October last year the government preferred industry self-regulation but would legislate controls if this proved ineffective.


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3 min read
Published 14 July 2016 4:06pm
Source: AAP


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