The office of Michelle Rowland, the Australian communications minister, has issued an apology for the persistent delays concerning gambling advertisement reforms.
Emails reviewed by *Guardian Australia* reveal reluctance from Rowland’s office to provide a definitive timeline for responding to the late Labor MP Peta Murphy’s report, “You Win Some, You Lose Some.” The report, which was released around 18 months ago, advocated for a total ban on gambling advertisements. However, the current rules remain unchanged, with ongoing speculation suggesting that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports a regulatory cap that does not completely eliminate gambling ads.
This development followed an inquiry by Mark Kempster, a representative of the Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Voices of Lived Experiences program. Kempster sought updates from Rowland’s office due to growing frustrations over the prolonged inaction on the report’s recommendations.
In response, a staff member expressed understanding of the situation’s toll on Kempster and others, apologizing for the lack of progress. The staffer pointed out that such decisions require backing from both the Prime Minister and the cabinet, emphasizing that a minister’s viewpoint alone is insufficient.
Kempster’s request came mere days after the Albanese administration admitted there would be no updates on gambling ad reforms until the new year, despite Rowland’s previous commitment to outlining Labor’s plans by the end of 2024 in a discussion with ABC earlier this month. Kempster underscored the adverse effects of these delays on those who contributed to Murphy’s inquiry, arguing the prolonged inaction is unacceptable.
The staff member agreed that the minister had promised a public announcement on gambling ad reform within the year but noted this is no longer feasible, acknowledging the delay as “frustrating and hard to understand.”
No specific reasons for the deferral were provided in the response from Rowland’s office, but it reaffirmed the Albanese government’s dedication to ensuring reforms are both effective and thorough. *Guardian Australia* also reported that a nearly identical message was sent to another reform advocate equally exasperated by the delay.
During a press conference at Parliament House on Monday, November 25th, Sport Minister Anika Wells highlighted concerns about how online gambling ad reforms might impact the financial frameworks of national sports organizations and potential effects on sporting integrity.
Wells remarked, “On both sides that I need to look at, I think it needs more nuanced work,” expressing anticipation in collaborating further with Minister Rowland on the 31 recommendations contained in the Murphy Report. She acknowledged extensive consultations but clarified the plans were not fully developed, requiring additional effort to reach consensus among all parties within the sporting context.
*EGR Global* has reached out to Rowland’s office for further remarks.
The original article titled “Report: Australian communications minister apologises for gambling ad reform delay” was first published on *EGR Intel*.