Six months after the late Peta Murphy’s parliamentary committee report on online gambling was released, the Albanese Government is yet to make its response. Freedom of Information documents show why. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has been busy conducting secret consultations with “key stakeholders”. Rex Patrick and Philip Dorling unpack the government’s form on gambling reform.
Source: Murphy Report on gambling reform delayed by sports bet lobby – Michael West
Labor has a long history of profiting from poker machines. Will they move a motion at the ALP National Conference to address gambling harm? Veteran anti-pokies crusader, journalist Stephen Mayne reports.
Source: Action from Labor on pokies, gambling, more long-shot than sure bet – Michael West
For decades it seems Australian politics, especially in NSW, has been dominated by three major entities – the two major political parties and the gambling industry.
The state has half of the nation’s pokies and, incredibly, 35% of the world’s pokies in its clubs and pubs. With such ubiquitous accessibility it is no wonder Australia has the greatest gambling losses in the world – 40% greater than the nation that comes second.
Gambling does the most harm to the people and communities of NSW that Labor is supposed to represent
With a suicide rate of 10.4 per 100,000 people, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, we rank about 18 out of 36 among OECD countries. And in terms of gambling, we are among the worst, experiencing the biggest losses per capita. The two can be linked: studies show gambling is the cause of an estimated 400 suicides annually.
Source: ‘Gamble responsibly’ message is a cop-out. Regulators must step up
But there is at least one other deal process in Australia that may have piqued Murdoch’s interest. An auction is under way for Australia’s largest listed gambling business, Tabcorp, after the $10 billion firm told the market last month it had received numerous approaches for its wagering business, which includes the TAB and Sky Racing brands.
Could Rupert Murdoch’s last corporate punt be on the betting industry?
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