The influence of the gambling industry over government policy should go under the microscope, an independent senator says, as Labor faces pressure to ban betting ads.
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David Pocock will push to refer "the extent and the appropriateness of industry influence over government decision-making as it relates to online gambling reform".
It would also look at influence over the government's response to a landmark gambling harm inquiry chaired by late-Labor MP Peta Murphy that recommended an advertising phase out.
Senator Pocock will make the referral to a Senate committee on Wednesday and have it report back by February 25.
It was "pretty astonishing" no action had been taken after the Murphy review was unanimously backed across parliament with no dissenting remarks, he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
"This is a public health issue, we need to deal with it as such and we've seen the prime minister listen to (NRL head) Peter V'Landys rather than Peta Murphy," he said.
The ACT independent will push to have the government explain why a Senate order to disclose all records of interaction between the prime minister and the NRL and AFL related to online gambling reform.
He questioned why the meetings were discovered under a freedom of information request but not in an order for the production of the documents in the Senate.
This shows a lack of respect for the upper house, Senator Pocock said, as he demands an explanation in the Senate on Thursday.
His referral on Wednesday will come on the same day the Greens will push a private senator's bill to ban gambling advertising on digital platforms, before and after sports broadcasts and during kids' programs.
Ads will be capped at two per television program under the Greens proposal, which is a watered-down version of a total ban they're calling for but in line with Labor's previous policy.
Labor briefed industry figures in 2024 it planned to restrict TV advertising to two an hour and not during children's programs or within an hour of live sport as well as banning online and social media ads.
Although the policy was never announced publicly before being shelved behind the scenes.
The government was still consulting with the industry and wouldn't progress legislation on online gambling advertising reform until it was finished, a spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.
Friday marked 19 months since the gambling report was tabled in parliament.
The gambling industry's peak body Responsible Wagering Australia is against a blanket online ad ban, warning it would push people to offshore and unregulated gambling sites.
It instead wants to "reduce children's and vulnerable groups' exposure to gambling advertising" and ensure sports and broadcasters who rely on the ad revenue weren't harmed, CEO Kai Cantwell told AAP.
"The government has acknowledged the complexities involved in reform of this magnitude and is rightly ensuring that any changes are targeted at reducing harm and do not lead to unintended consequences," he said.
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and Alliance for Gambling Reform are jointly calling for alcohol and gambling companies to be banned from donating after data revealed $2.5 million was given to political parties in 2023/24.
"When companies provide donations to political parties, they do so to try and influence decision-making," the foundation's CEO Caterina Giorgi said.
The "you win some, you lose more" committee report was tabled on June 28, 2023.
AAP does not suggest any quid pro quo arrangement or wrongdoing.
The timing was in line with previous donations at the end of the financial year and yearly donations had been decreasing, Sportsbet said.
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
Australian Associated Press
