“Evidence heard at recent Senate Estimates Committee hearings reveals that the Federal Government is preparing legislative options to enforce a 12 month ban on new Internet gambling content, Senator Lundy, Shadow Minister Assisting on Information Technology, said today.
“After the sensible rejection of the Coalition’s moratorium by the majority of State Governments, it is clear the Coalition is exploring the same legislative approach to ban Internet gambling as they took in the On-line Services Act.
“This is a far more draconian approach than talk of a moratorium has previously implied.
“This backward-looking approach defies the recommendations of the Productivity Commission and disregards genuine efforts by some States to implement a regulated licensing regime for Internet gambling that pursues best practice and addresses a range of concerns, including under-age access.
“The Coalition is ignoring and indeed twisting the facts in their references to the genuine concerns surrounding Internet gambling, and we are starting to hear the same sort of scare-mongering inaccurate rhetoric coming from John Howard’s frontline campaigner for moral conservatism, Senator Tierney.
“When will this Government realise their approach to the Internet is ineffective in solving the social problems associated with gambling addiction?
“When will they realise they are reinforcing the perception that Australia is the global village idiot?
“This talk of the moratorium is a smoke screen.
I am expecting the worst, perhaps a surprise bill in the parliament that seeks to impose a compulsory moratorium – a ban – on Internet gambling.
“If only the Government’s efforts could be focussed in more constructive ways of educating Internet users and encouraging responsible regulations in the appropriate jurisdiction – the States.
“Labor has many concerns regarding the impact of Internet gambling on problem gamblers. The difference is that we understand the challenge requires more than rhetoric and a useless piece of legislation to fix it,” Senator Lundy concluded.
Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
