Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Gambling advertising

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:53): It is rare in Australian public life, much rarer than it should be, that people from across the political divide, across states and across the religious and secular worlds come together to demand an action. But that has happened, with former prime ministers and premiers; MPs; union, sport, business and health leaders; faith figures; academics; writers; and social justice advocates all coming together, signing an open letter to the Prime Minister and the federal opposition leader asking them to ban all gambling advertising and ban inducements and promotions. The letter says:

Gambling advertising in Australia is out of control with one million gambling ads being aired on free-to-air television and radio in just one year.

Gambling companies are now grooming our kids, who are:

… being targeted by the tsunami of gambling ads that assault our screens, especially around coverage of our major sporting codes. It is ensnaring a whole new generation of gamblers.

Prime Minister, you have been given the social licence to show us that you do believe in something, that you do believe in our kids and that you believe in a future free from the scourge of gambling. Show us that you are not dancing to the tune of the gambling industry masters. Take action now and ban gambling advertising for good, for all our futures.