The ALP yesterday moved Second Reading Amendments in the Senate to the Coalition’s Interactive Gambling (Moratorium) Bill 2000.
Labor stated that the principal objectives of any gambling regulation should include:
-
Consumer protection – ensuring a quality gambling product by financial probity checks on providers and their staff, maintaining the integrity of games and the proper working of gaming equipment etc;
-
Education – for athletes, punters, and the general public,
-
Minimising any criminal activity linked to gambling;
-
Containing the social costs of gambling by limiting access and ensuring that funds are available to assist those with gambling problems;
-
Maintaining and protecting a significant revenue base for government;
-
Universal standards for all operators,
-
An examination of international protocols with the aim of achieving multilateral agreements on sportsbetting,
-
Limiting the exploitation of monopoly market positions; and
-
Ensuring that some of the benefits accrue more directly to the local community.
The Opposition called on the Government to show national leadership on this issue.
“Instead of an unworkable ban, the Coalition should be addressing harm minimisation and consumer protection as well as criminal issues that may arise from online gambling,” Senator Lundy said.
“The Coalition should be providing mechanisms to exclude those not eligible to gamble under Australian law – not implementing a ban which will still allow minors to bet on unregulated offshore sites.
“They should be implementing problem gambling controls, such as exclusion from facilities, expenditure thresholds, no credit betting, and the regular provision of transaction records.
“The Coalition has failed to provide national leadership on this issue.
“National leadership involves examining international protocols with the aim of achieving multilateral agreements on sportsbetting and other forms of interactive gambling.
“National leadership means working with State and Territory governments to ensure that online and interactive gambling operators meet the highest standards of probity, and auditing through licensing agreements.
“It means seeking co-regulation of interactive gambling by establishing a national regulatory framework that provides consumer safeguards and industry Codes of Practice.
“If the Coalition was serious about addressing interactive gambling they would have coordinated the development of a co-regulatory regime through the Ministerial Council comprising relevant State and Federal Ministers.
“And they would have initiated effective privacy protection for online gamblers.
“Labor is opposed to this bill because we do not believe it is technically feasible or indeed necessary.
“We believe that effective regulation of online gambling is the most practical way of substantially restricting the harm caused by gambling and to maximise the benefits that will flow-on to consumers, the gambling and IT industries and the general public.
“We do support federal involvement in coordinating such regulation. Indeed, leadership is the key element missing from the Federal government. They have never sought to develop a role with industry and representatives of the key stakeholders to arrive at workable and acceptable legislation.
“Our position is that the existing regulatory requirements for land-based gambling and gaming agencies be extended to include online gambling and casinos which would be required to meet the same licensing requirements, auditing and probity.
“Without a national regulatory framework, Australia’s reputation as a leading regulator of gaming and gambling will be diminished and Australian citizens would be open to unscrupulous manipulation and rip-offs from dodgy offshore gambling sites.
“In short, this bill will not stop problem gamblers from betting online. It will not stop Australian punters being ripped-off or having their personal details misused. It will not address social issues, such as problem gambling, domestic violence or family breakdowns.
“What will address these issues is a workable, coordinated legislative framework.
“This is Labor’s position.”
Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 – 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
