Gambling Advertisement 'double Standard' As PM Touts Child Safety
Anger is bubbling at the perceived hypocrisy of teenagers being banned from social media to lower harm, but still being able to be targeted by gambling advertisements.
Community advocates, Labor backbenchers, union and crossbench MPs and even the gaming lobby have regreted the federal government for not acting on gambling advertising, two years after a landmark report into gambling harm.
Liberal MP Simon Kennedy, who is co-chairing the parliamentary pals of gambling damage minimisation group, accused Labor of hypocrisy for making such a huge song and dance over kid security when prohibiting them from social media, but refraining from doing anything to stop them being bombarded with betting advertisements on other platforms.
"The prime minister wants to prohibit teens from social media in the name of kid security, yet he refuses to confront the betting industry that is actively targeting young Australians online or on TV," Mr Kennedy told AAP.
"Australians need to ask why the prime minister has this double requirement."
The group is co-chaired by outspoken Labor backbencher Mike Freelander, who is demanding action on the concern and has actually required a conscience vote on reforms to ensure they pass in a prompt manner.
There are rumours Communications Minister Anika Wells is working on a reform plan to be unveiled before March.
The allegations of a go-slow on gambling damage reform have stimulated disappointments from Labor as the spotlight is once again shone on its failure to carry out the key suggestion of phasing out online betting advertising.
A noticeably irritated prime minister rapidly shut down a question from independent MP Zali Steggall when asked if unrelenting gaming marketing was acceptable, using a terse "No" in reply.
Minister Tanya Plibersek was similarly terse on early morning radio, implicating the host of being "obsessed about the gaming marketing" when asked about a lack of action and the link between betting damage and domestic violence.
Ms Plibersek on Tuesday revealed more funding for a domestic violence hotline however was inquired about disappointments concerning the government failing to respond to 31 recommendations from a landmark gaming damage query two years later.
Alcohol and drugs, issue gambling and online misogyny were very important elements that required to be resolved, she informed ABC radio on Tuesday.
"Will continue to work to resolve this as an issue but it's not the only issue when it concerns household, domestic and sexual violence," she said.
The social services department is named as the lead firm responsible for over half of the recommendations, consisting of developing a thorough online gambling harm decrease technique.
Even the betting lobby has expressed frustrations about the absence of certainty over reforms, drifting their own compromises on advertising limits and constraints.
It has also said it wanted to keep online marketing, including on social networks and streaming services, however it would just be to logged-in, age-verified accounts so it doesn't target kids, and there would be an opt-out mechanism.