Greens accuse PM of not 'having guts' to tackle gambling following partial ad ban
The Greens criticized PM Albanese's partial gambling ad ban, arguing it lacks the courage to fully address online gambling harms.Summary
The Greens party has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of lacking the “guts” to adequately tackle gambling, responding to his announcement of a partial ban on gambling advertisements. Albanese announced reforms to combat gambling losses, which total $32 billion annually for Australians, including restrictions on television ads and a ban during live sports. However, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized the measures as insufficient, particularly regarding online advertising, advocating for a complete ban similar to that of tobacco. She also called for a national regulator. The government defends its approach as a significant step, highlighting the implementation of a self-exclusion register and a ban on credit card use for gambling, with further changes expected to begin in January 2027. Advocates and independent senators have also expressed disappointment, deeming the reforms 'half-arsed' without a full ban.
(Source：SBS Australia)