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Tuesday 7 April 2026
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Gambling reforms unveiled Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au
Pool for all A NEW hoist has been installed at the Pines Forest Aquatic Centre to make the pool more accessible for people living with disabilities. See story page 3. Picture: Supplied
THE federal government has finally confirmed its long-awaited plans for gambling reform, nearly three years after a gambling inquiry chaired by former Dunkley MP Peta Murphy handed down its final report. The “You win some, you lose more” report was published in June of 2023. Among the 31 recommendations was a ban on online gambling advertising, stronger consumer protections for licensed online gambling, a crackdown on illegal gambling websites, and a legislated duty of care (“Murphy’s gambling law considered” The Times, 22/1/2024) . Last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the National Press Club that the federal government would legislate gambling reform once Parliament returns, but he stopped short of committing to implementing all of the report’s recommendations. Albanese confirmed that the federal government plans on “restricting gambling advertising on broadcast television to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within
those hours; banning gambling ads on the radio during school drop off and pick up times (8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm); banning gambling ads through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt-out of gambling advertising; banning the use of celebrities and sports players in gambling ads, along with odds-style ads targeting sports fans; and banning gambling ads in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms.” The reforms will be implemented from 1 January 2027 if legislated, the Prime Minister confirmed. The Peta Murphy-chaired gambling inquiry released its report roughly six months before the Dunkley MP died from breast cancer. Since Murphy’s passing, the federal government has faced strong criticism for dragging its heels on gambling reform. The Alliance for Gambling Reform has slammed the federal government’s approach. Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said “we desperately hope that the reporting on the government’s plans is wrong – it will fall far, far short of the recommendations of the multi-party parliamentary committee recommendations led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.” Continued page 3