GAMBLING REFORM FIRMLY ON AGENDA FOR NEW PARLIAMENT

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, is joining Senator Nick Xenophon and Rev Tim Costello AO from the Alliance for Gambling Reform to discuss the need for urgent action on problem gambling in the new Parliament.

“The new Parliament, with both Nick Xenophon and myself in key crossbench positions, presents the perfect opportunity to put gambling reform back on the national agenda and to finally achieve meaningful action,” Mr Wilkie said.

“For a start Senator Xenophon and I will be calling for the re-establishment of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform so it can continue the work that began in the 43rd Parliament.

“We will be introducing legislation to rein in the harm caused by poker machines, including by implementing the Productivity Commission’s recommendations of $1 maximum bets.

“We’ll also be focusing on the scourge of gambling advertising and will be calling on the Government to ban sports betting advertising during G-rated television periods.

“The great many Australian problem gamblers who lose billions of dollars a year deserve meaningful reform. So too do the between five and 10 people per problem gambler who are adversely affected. Not to mention the millions of Australians who want reform.

“Let’s not forget that every one of these problem gamblers is a human being. They are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and work colleagues.

“That we haven’t seen reform so far is a shocking indictment of the Labor and Liberal parties. But no wonder when you look at the enormous donations that they both receive from the gambling industry.

“If the Labor and Liberal parties won’t stand up to the gambling industry, the crossbench will. Doing nothing isn’t an option.”
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison