Ex-Liberal MP slams Coalition for supporting limited gambling reforms

Jenny Ware, a former Liberal MP and member of the 2023 inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, denounced the Coalition for supporting Labor’s gambling reforms, arguing the measures do not adequately shield vulnerable Australians. The reforms, hailed by the government as the most stringent to date, cap television wagering ads at three per hour between 5 am and 8:30 pm, restrict online ads to users over 18 with a mandatory opt-out register, and aim to eventually ban advertising on sports jerseys and stadiums, while tightening rules on inducements and celebrity endorsements.

Critics, including Ware and Murphy’s husband Rod Glover, note the absence of a full advertising ban and a national gambling regulator that the inquiry recommended. Ware commended a handful of former Coalition MPs, such as Andrew Wallace and Pat Conaghan, who crossed the floor to oppose the bill and called for more robust action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the balance struck, citing collaboration with anti-gambling groups and the expansion of the BetStop self-exclusion register.