Australian Minister Bill Shorten says a ban of gambling advertisements would undermine the free-to air media, which is he claims “under attack” by digital platforms like Facebook.
Shorten is minister of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. His intervention is the latest sign that the government won’t implement the total ban on gambling ads as suggested in the Murphy Report 2023.
Shorten, speaking on ABC Australia Q+A yesterday (12 August), said: “I am not sure that total prohibition is the best solution.”
We’re in a bad situation. Some of the media outlets that are free to air need gambling ads at all times in order to just stay afloat.
I don’t like Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook running my newsfeeds. “He’s not paying Australian media for the reports they make,” he said to the audience.
The government may limit gambling advertisements to two ads per hour up until 10pm, and ban ads that run before or after sports broadcasts.
The focus will be protecting children from gambling advertisements
Shorten suggested that the government focus its efforts on stopping gambling advertisements from “infiltrating digital markets”.
The government will likely enforce the ban of digital advertising as recommended by the late MP Peta Murphry.
He said: “We’re looking at how gambling is marketed to children, and how to avoid it. We also want to make sure you are watching sports, not just any sport.”
Ministers are working together with the government to “restrict other forms of promotion of gambling”, the minister said.
Liberal Party opposes gambling ads before and after sporting events
David Pocock, a former rugby player and high-profile politician, has condemned the apparent rollback of the ban on gambling ads.
Jane Hume appeared as well on ABC’s panel. She stated that the opposition supports the banning of gambling advertisements during sports broadcasts, as well as restrictions pre- and post show. She did not, however, go so far as to demand an outright prohibition of TV and radio advertisements.
Hume responded to a question about the position of his party on a blanket prohibition, which was supported by John Howard when he served as Liberal Prime Minister. “Our policy would be to prohibit it during sporting broadcasts because that is where they are.” Families sit with their children there. “That’s what the kids watch.”
