ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is today tabling a petition coordinated by Independent Candidate for Bean Jessie Price calling for a full ban on gambling advertising. Signed by more than 700 Canberrans the petition demonstrates widespread support in the ACT for stronger action on gambling advertising.
“Our petition in Bean adds our voices to the pressure on government to back in real reform,” Ms Price said.
The petition adds to more than 16,000 emails that have been sent to parliamentarians from Senator Pocock’s StopGamblingAds.com.au website. Senator Pocock has also crowdfunded mobile billboards calling for a total gambling advertising ban at Labor's national conference in Adelaide, at the Prime Minister and Communications Minister’s electorate offices and at Canberra airport.
Senator Pocock is moving amendments to the government’s legislation that would ban all gambling advertising, instead of the government’s weak partial ban. His amendments would also ban harmful inducements and require an independent review of the legislation.
It comes as new information released by the Department of Communications also confirms the government was advised to consider a full gambling advertising ban in 2024.
Senator Pocock said Canberrans were demanding better from their representatives than weak gambling reforms that cave to the gambling lobby.
“The major political parties are showing just how captured they are by vested interests. They are listening to donors and lobbyists rather than experts and communities,” Senator Pocock said.
“Instead of the strong gambling reforms the Murphy inquiry proposed with unanimous support, we’ve know got a weak, watered down bill that won’t protect children and others from an extraordinarily predatory industry.
“Our community has been so clear about wanting stronger action, it is a tragedy that their voices are being ignored by the major parties who are deferring the gambling lobbyists crawling the halls of parliament.”