Australian Greens offer compromise on proposed gambling advertising ban

    

    Australia - The Greens have released a letter sent to communications minister Michelle Rowland last week in which the party offered Labor a compromise on gambling advertising. The party offered to amend the Gambling Advertising Ban Bill, which is scheduled to be debated in the Senate on Wednesday (February 5), to support a partial ban rather than a total ban as long as immediate action is taken.

    

    The party offered to support a ban on ads before and after sports broadcasts and during children's viewing times and a limit of two ads per television program. These measures are similar to those reportedly being considered by the government.

    

    Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator for South Australia and Greens communications spokesperson, said: “Gambling advertising reform is unfinished business in this parliament. The public wants this resolved before the election and the Government must listen and act. We are offering a pragmatic path here and there is enough time to get it done. On Wednesday, the senate will debate and vote on the Greens' bill to ban gambling advertising. All parties should support it.

    

    “We will be supporting legislation this week to ban online gambling advertising and implement some broadcast restrictions before and after sports matches and during children's viewing times. This offer is consistent with the Albanian Government's previous promises. If the Government is serious about preventing the dangers of gambling and protecting our children, they will accept this offer. Australians want gambling advertising banned and stakeholders are eager to act.

    

    “The Albanian Government should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The Greens have compromised and Labor should too. The Greens will push for a full ban on gambling advertising in the next parliament, but in the meantime, we must work together for the sake of our children and communities. Australians lose more money to gambling than any other country in the world and we need our politicians to act.”

    

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC that he had not seen the Greens' proposal and that his government had “taken more action on gambling than any government since federation.”

    

    Australian Greens offer compromise over proposed gambling advertising banThe Greens have offered to support a partial ban on gambling advertising provided it comes soon. Australia - The Greens have released a letter sent to the communications minister