Former PMs, premiers and sportspeople demand Labor go all-in on gambling reform

While the Albanese government has implemented a self-exclusion register and banned credit card use for gambling, some reports suggest gambling ads reform will be watered-down to limiting when they are shown.

Former Liberal Party prime ministers John Howard (left) and Malcolm Turnbull (right), as well as independent MP Monique Ryan (centre), are among those calling on the government to implement strong gambling reforms. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts / James Ross / Mick Tsikas

Scores of politicians, sports people and other prominent Australians have demanded the federal government and opposition go all-in on gambling reforms.

A more-than 60-strong alliance — including former prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull and former state premiers Dominic Perrottet, Jeff Kennett and Steve Bracks — is urging the implementation of all gambling reforms recommended in a landmark review led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.

The 'You win some, you lose more' review made 31 recommendations when the report was handed down in 2023, including a total ban on gambling advertising within three years.

While the Albanese government has implemented a self-exclusion register and banned credit card use for gambling, some reports suggest gambling ads reform will be watered-down to limiting when they are shown.

A decision to only cap or limit advertising would leave Australians open to significant harm, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Martin Thomas said.

"A total ban on all gambling advertising is essential to stop gambling companies targeting our children," Thomas said in a statement.

Australia loses around $25 billion each year on legal gambling, the highest per capita loss in the world.

"But the real cost of inaction is the mounting financial ruin, mental health problems, suicide, and the family violence that gambling can exacerbate," Thomas said.

Addressing reporters in Western Australia on Saturday, Perth MP Patrick Gorman said work on gambling reforms was ongoing.

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"We are working through the incredibly important report ... our late dear friend Peta Murphy did, making sure that we do take serious action to reduce the completely unacceptable harms of gambling," Gorman said.

Murphy, who was the member for Dunkley, died from breast cancer in December 2023.

"(Gambling) destroys lives, it destroys people's futures," Gorman said.

"And there is more the government can do, and we are working through that at the moment."

Stakeholder consultation was ongoing, he said, and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland would deliver the specifics of any policy changes once they were ready.

Labor MP Peta Murphy (left) chaired the federal social policy and legal affairs committee’s inquiry into gambling-related harms before she passed away in December 2023. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Former prime minister John Howard said he believed gambling was responsible for enormous harm across Australian communities.

"As an unapologetic sports fan, I am troubled by how advertising is now linked with all our major sporting codes and what message this is sending to our children."

A host of federal independent MPs also signed the letter to the government and opposition, including Andrew Wilkie, Rebekha Sharkie, Monique Ryan, Allegra Spender, Kylea Tink, Zali Steggall, Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney, Dai Le, Helen Haines, Sophie Scamps and independent Senator David Pocock.

Other signatories included former Australian of the Year and family violence prevention advocate Rosie Batty, former AFL player Easton Wood and former Socceroo and broadcaster Craig Foster.