澳大利亚总理阿尔巴内塞与反对党领袖安格斯·泰勒在堪培拉于周一进行谈判，就限制赌博诱导措施达成了协议框架[1]。这一进展旨在加强工党的反赌博法案，该法案原本因未能体现议员彼得·墨菲领导的议会调查的雄心而受到批评[1]。根据协议，政府将对赌博诱导措施加以限制，并推出新的赌博广告规则，预计本周内通过议会[1]。
阿尔巴内塞向工党党团承诺这将是"澳大利亚有史以来最强硬的反赌博立法"[1]，并表示协议将处理"广告针对、减少儿童接触以及一整套措施"[1]。泰勒曾要求将"掠夺性诱导措施"纳入政府法案[1]。这一协议建立在2023年6月墨菲委员会建议政府"禁止所有在线赌博诱导措施和诱导广告"的基础之上[1]。上周，前国家橄榄球联赛球员卢克·贝特曼和反赌博活动人士蒂姆·科斯特洛提供证据，指称赌博公司向大额赌客提供可卡因、酒精和性工作者[1]。
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor have moved closer to a bipartisan agreement on gambling reform following negotiations in Canberra on Monday [1]. The talks center on strengthening Labor's anti-gambling legislation, which had drawn criticism for falling short of the ambitions outlined in a parliamentary inquiry led by the late member Peta Murphy [1].
Albanese has committed to restricting inducements and introducing new gambling advertising rules, with the legislation expected to pass parliament this week [1]. The Prime Minister pledged to the Labor caucus that the outcome would constitute "the strongest anti-gambling legislation Australia has ever had," addressing "targeted advertising, reduced exposure for children, and a comprehensive suite of measures" [1]. Taylor had specifically called for "predatory inducement measures" to be incorporated into the government's bill [1].
The push for tougher restrictions follows a June 2023 recommendation from the Murphy committee that the government "ban all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising" [1]. Recently, former NRL player Luke Bateman and anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello provided testimony alleging that gambling operators have offered cocaine, alcohol, and sex workers to high-stakes gamblers [1].