Government set for some compromise on gambling bill, with curb on inducements

The government is set to limit inducements provided by companies to encourage gamblers, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened to secure the passage of key legislation in the current parliamentary fortnight.

Albanese met Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to discuss the gambling legislation in particular, and also the government’s bill on reforming the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

They canvassed as well the proposed News Bargaining Incentive, designed to ensure digital platforms have to make commercial deals with media organisations when they want to use their content.

Apart from limiting inducements, it is understood the concessions proposed on the gambling legislation relate to tightening the times advertisements are permitted and the provisions for streaming services.

The bills on gambling and the NDIS have been before parliamentary inquiries, which are to report imminently.

The inquiry into the gambling legislation heard disturbing evidence of the incentives offered by some companies, with startling allegations of companies providing drugs, alcohol, food, interstate flights, and escorts. Gaming companies denied some of the more dramatic claims.

Albanese told the Labor caucus on Monday:

As a result of the work that we did at [Labor’s] National Conference, when it comes to the gambling legislation, further work [has been done] and amendments […] will be carried, I think, with bipartisan support about inducements.“

He also said it was important to get the balance right, taking account of people who wanted to "have a punt on a Saturday at the races” while also ensuring problem gambling was dealt with.

“This will be the strongest anti-gambling legislation that Australia has ever seen,” Albanese said. But critics who have said the legislation is too weak are unlikely to be satisfied with the concessions.

The Greens said on Monday they wanted a complete ban on inducements.

Taylor said the opposition also wanted “balance”.

We want to get it right, we want to make sure that predatory inducements are not there, that they are being dealt with appropriately and we’re getting the balance right on this, and we’ll work closely with the government to do that.

There’s goodwill in our approach to work with the government on this.

Meanwhile former prime minister John Howard told Nine media that Labor’s proposed opt-out system, with people having to say they don’t want to see advertisements, would be ineffective and instead there should be an opt-in system.

In the Albanese-Taylor meeting the NDIS was discussed relatively briefly.

It is particularly important for the government to secure passage of the NDIS reforms as soon as possible. A large part of the budget savings are from savings in the NDIS.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.