Australia’s Labour Party adopts stronger gambling policy
The governing party has pledging to expand the powers of existing regulators and propose new measures to protect minors.
Australia.- Delegates at the Australian Labour Party’s National Conference have unanimously approved changes to the party’s gambling policy. The party has made a commitment to strengthen the powers of existing national regulators and require them to report annually to Parliament.
However, Labour will not support calls for the creation of a national gambling regulator, despite recommendations from the 2023 parliamentary inquiry led by the late MP Peta Murphy. The decision has been criticised by gambling reform advocates, who argue that single national regulator is needed to strengthen oversight of the sector.
The party also intends to propose measures to prevent online games and social media platforms from exposing children and young people to gambling inducements and to reduce the link between gambling and sport through education campaigns and other initiatives. The policy is intended to build on legislation introduced earlier this month that would restrict gambling advertising on television and radio, including a ban during live sports broadcasts.
The party has also pledged to work with people affected by gambling-related harm and explore additional measures to limit young people’s exposure to gambling content online.
