Skip to content
Government Federal, Mental Health

Call to delay govt response to gambling ad ban

Alliance for Gambling Reform 2 mins read

The Federal Government must delay consideration of a raft of online gambling reforms – including a total ban on gambling advertising – until after the constitutional referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Chief Advocate, Rev. Tim Costello, said television executives, who are bitterly opposed to a gambling advertising ban, could use their support or opposition to the Indigenous Voice to parliament as a bargaining chip.

“My deep fear is that the government is so desperate to win support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament that it may be tempted to water down gambling advertising bans in a trade off  to win the support of the television networks for the ‘yes’ vote,” Rev. Costello said.

“The government should delay any decision on banning gambling advertising until after the national referendum on the Voice to Parliament.”

“The referendum is sucking the life out of all other critical issues and it would be a tragic, lost opportunity if horse trading over the voice led to critical reforms being watered down or even rejected.”

Rev. Costello said both sides of politics needed to understand the white-hot anger that is out in the community about gambling advertising.

“Gambling advertising is the real bbq-stopper in the Australian community.  If there is a failure to seize this opportunity to crackdown on gambling ads, there will be voter backlash against the major parties,” he said.

Rev. Costello, together with the Alliance’s CEO Carol Bennett, earlier this month met with both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to encourage them to support the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling which included a recommendation to ban all gambling advertising over three years.

“It is clear there is enormous pressure being put on our political leaders from the gambling industry and free to air television networks to stop this ban. Our leaders must not collapse under this pressure,” Rev. Costello said.

“It would be prudent to delay any government response to the online gambling inquiry recommendations until the referendum has been completed. Only, then can the public be assured the major parties are not yielding to powerful lobby groups.”


About us:

The Alliance is the only national peak body working to reduce gambling harm. We have over 60 supporting organisations in our network and 23 leadership local councils in Victoria who have an interest in reducing the exponential level of gambling harm in Australia. We are a registered health promotion charity and are 100% funded by donations from individuals, foundations, trusts, local government and other sources that do not have ties to the gambling industry. We are not affiliated with any political party

The Alliance for Gambling Reform has long advocated for public health reforms that are evidence-based and community-backed with the sole purpose of reducing and preventing gambling harm in Australia. Online gambling is increasingly becoming one of the biggest health issues we are facing as a country.


Contact details:

Tim Costello is available for interview

Media contact: Martin Thomas – 0477 340 704 

More from this category

  • Government Federal, Taxation
  • 01/12/2023
  • 08:41
Australian Taxation Office

ATO welcomes decision in Pepsi vs Commissioner of Taxation

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) welcomes the decision by the Federal Court in relation to PepsiCo, Inc. v Commissioner of Taxation. The Court delivered an oral judgment yesterday with the full judgment subject to confidentiality orders. This decision confirms PepsiCo, Inc. (Pepsi) is liable for royalty withholding tax and, in the alternative, diverted profits tax would apply. This is the first time a Court has considered the diverted profits tax – a new tool to ensure multinationals pay the right amount of tax. Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Saint said this is a landmark decision as it confirms that the diverted profits…

  • Government Federal, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 01/12/2023
  • 08:35
Catholic Health Australia

Catholic Health Australia endorses move to establish anti-slavery commissioner

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) strongly endorses the federal government’s move to establish an anti-slavery commissioner under a bill introduced to parliament on Thursday. “Establishing an anti-slavery commissioner is an important step forward in tackling the scourge of modern slavery,” said CHA Strategy & Mission Director Brigid Meney. “CHA has been calling for this move and is pleased to see the government progressing it. “CHA stands firmly against modern slavery which violates fundamental human rights and has no place in Australia or the world more broadly.” Ms Meney said a federal anti-slavery commissioner can play a key role in improving reporting…

  • Government Federal
  • 30/11/2023
  • 15:30
Parliament of Australia

Audit Committee to inquire into Home Affairs’ abandoned $92 million visa application procurement

TheJoint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit(JCPAA) has initiated a new inquiry to examine the Department of Home Affairs’ procurement of a replacement IT system for processing visa applications. Home Affairs engaged in a multi-stage procurement for the visa processing capability which commenced in September 2017, with a new related process beginning in October 2020. Chair of the Committee,Mr Julian HillMP, said that the inquiry will consider the expenditure incurred and whether value for money was achieved, the impact of anticipated savings on the Department of Home Affairs, the conduct of entities or persons involved or interested in the process,…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time your distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.