Australia’s Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has flatly denied that she met with gambling executives and that she intentionally relaxed restrictions due to pressure from gambling companies, broadcast media and sports codes.
Independent MP Kate Chaney had claimed that Rowland met with gambling executives 66 times in six months, claiming this was unveiled by documents uncovered in a freedom of information (FOI) inquiry.
Chaney also further claimed that Rowland was “conspiring with the sector to continue grooming young people”.
Rowland stated in her defense: “That is not what those FOI (freedom of information) documents uncovered, in fact the documents will show I met zero times with gambling executives. And we will continue to go about this process with the facts, in an orderly way, because facts are important here”.
Rowland has been accused of being soft on gambling operators in regards to their advertisements – choosing to not opt for a total ban, instead placing limits on gambling adverts.
The Minister defends that the government is prioritizing the reduction of normalization of sports betting, limit children’s exposure to betting ads and the saturation of advertising, in particular online.
She stated that the authorities “will continue to consult in a mature and orderly manner consistent with a proper Cabinet process”.
This comes after a group of more than 60 Australians – including former prime ministers, MPs, union heads, athletes, advocates, business professionals and others signed an open letter calling for a ban on all gambling advertisements within three years.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Minister Rowland had flagged a total ban on social media ads by gambling companies in private briefings to betting firms, sports codes and media companies. However, the ban would not extend to television, instead proposing limiting ads on TV to an hour before or after live sports as well as a limit of two ads per hour until 10pm.
The Australian government has also delayed a decision to ban gambling advertising on playing fields and players’ jerseys.
