Australia’s Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander said a ban on gambling advertising would likely pass if Parliament were allowed a conscience vote. His position is backed by Liberal MP Simon Kennedy and Independent MP Kate Chaney, who co-chair the Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Minimisation group. Australia’s ABC News reported that Freelander sees growing agreement among MPs that gambling advertising is driving serious public health problems.
Dr Mike Freelander, a paediatrician and Labor MP, serves as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Minimisation group. His years working with families in Western Sydney inform his perspective on the impact of gambling. Freelander says he has seen gambling harm affect households, with consequences for both adults and children. His medical experience shapes his commitment to reform. He compares gambling advertising to tobacco promotion in the 1960s and 1970s, arguing that both target vulnerable people.
Freelander believes the evidence linking gambling adverts to harm is now clear. But recently, the government has been reported to use the newly announced under‑16 social media restrictions as justification for softening its stance on a gambling ads ban.
Labor, Liberal, and crossbench MPs are supporting tighter rules on gambling advertising, showing rare agreement across party lines. Liberal MP Simon Kennedy and Independent MP Kate Chaney, co-chairs of the group with Dr Mike Freelander, have spoken out. Kennedy says there is strong parliamentary support for reform. He points to families affected by gambling-related suicide and argues that faster action is needed. Chaney says communities across Australia want change. She notes that joining the group allows Labor MPs to show support without conflicting with their party’s slower approach.
Australia has tried before to restrict gambling adverts. A year ago, former lawmakers pushed for change, but the campaign ended without progress. The effort lacked support from sitting MPs and did not have strong research backing. As a result, it struggled to shape policy.
The 2023 inquiry into online gambling recommended phasing out gambling adverts. Implementation has been slow. Liberal MP Simon Kennedy says the government is delaying action and argues that stronger urgency is needed. Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander avoids direct criticism of the Prime Minister. He frames the issue as a matter of public health rather than politics.
The Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Minimisation group has become a focal point for MPs seeking stronger protections against gambling harm. Its purpose is to raise awareness, influence policy, and provide a platform for cross‑party cooperation. For many Labor MPs, joining the group is one of the few ways to signal support for reform without clashing with their party’s cautious approach. Members argue that gambling harm is a public health issue, with families and children often bearing the consequences.
Advocates are also using the group to push for structural change, presenting new research in Canberra to support the creation of a national gambling regulator. They say the current system is fragmented and ineffective, pointing to the Northern Territory’s light regulation and low taxes that allow foreign-owned bookmakers to operate nationwide under a single licence. A national regulator, they argue, would unify oversight and strengthen consumer protection.
Research from the Alliance for Gambling Reform shows that 1 percent of gamblers generate 40 percent of total losses. Most high‑loss gamblers are men aged 25 to 44, often with mortgages, families, financial pressures, or mental health challenges. Labor for Gambling Reform is working to build national membership by 2026 and push for gambling reform as core party policy. Party insiders believe internal advocacy can help overcome hesitation. Union leader Mark Morey says stories of gambling harm are common, especially in working‑class suburbs.
The government has banned credit card use for betting, introduced BetStop to allow self‑exclusion from licensed online wagering providers, and requires monthly activity statements to help gamblers monitor their spending.
Some senior ministers remain cautious about backing a complete ban on gambling advertising, but growing pressure has prompted the Prime Minister to signal support for stronger restrictions. With increasing political alignment and public demand, the prospect of a full phase‑out of gambling advertising is now more realistic than in previous attempts.
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