Independent MP Sophie Scamps has asked Health Minister Mark Butler why the government won’t support a full ban of gambling advertisements despite “irrefutable evidence” it affects young people’s mental health.
Scamps asked: “The public health community is united in their call for a complete ban on gambling advertising. As the health minister, will you heed the public health community’s call and support a full ban on gambling advertising to protect our children from being preyed upon for profit?”
This masthead first reported that the government is likely going to introduce legislation which only imposes a partial ban on gambling ads despite an inquiry report led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy calling for a full ban of ads.
“The prime minister [Anthony Albanese] did say the status quo regarding the saturation of gambling advertising, particularly where children are exposed to it, is untenable. He said the government is working through those issues and that work is led very appropriately by the Minister for Communications [Michelle Rowland] and the Minister for Social Services [Amanda Rishworth],” Butler said.
Two MPs have been kicked out of question time so far, including Coalition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar after he accused Housing Minister Clare O’Neil of citing incorrect data.
Asking another question of O’Neil on whether she could name any experts she referenced in a previous interview, Sukkar interrupted her answer by saying she was failing to answer his question.
“The minister cannot name those experts because she made that up,” Sukkar said to groans from Labor MPs.
Speaker Milton Dick said Sukkar was on a warning so could leave the chamber, as he could not use points of order to “add extra commentary”.
Labor MP Peter Khalil was booted from the chamber earlier for being too rowdy.
