Statements
Andrew Wilkie: A positive but small step
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has responded to the Prime Minister’s plan to stop the broadcast of live odds in sport.
“This is a positive but small step,” Mr Wilkie said.
“Live odds are helping to ruin our enjoyment of sports broadcasts and not good for children. The PM will be doing the right thing by stopping them.
“But the much bigger issue is gambling promotion in G-rated television broadcasts more broadly, and the abolition of live odds alone simply does not address that.
“A ban on live odds will still allow gambling advertising and gambling spruikers during sports broadcasts, including when our children are watching, and that’s simply not OK.
“The community is sick and tired of gambling advertising ruining their enjoyment of the game and appalled that their children are being bombarded with such advertising. It must stop and until it is stopped the Government is failing the community very badly.”
Andrew Wilkie, MP, Independent Member for Denison