Coalition MPs cross floor over ‘weak’ gambling crackdown as major parties strike deal

Labor’s legislation to restrict gambling ads is set to pass this week, after a deal between the major parties and support from the opposition. Two Coalition MPs have crossed the floor, with crossbenchers and the Greens expressing anger and dismay at the final form of the bill. Anthony Albanese and communications minister Anika Wells secured the opposition’s support, with amendments including tweaks to ad timing rules and restrictions on inducements.

The independent senator David Pocock denounced the deal as a "betrayal of all Australians" and vowed to vote against the bills in the Senate. The reforms are set to pass Thursday, not meeting the recommendations of a landmark report by former Labor MP Peta Murphy. The bill will not include a total ban on inducements or a complete overhaul of gambling ads.

Instead, a one-stop "opt-out register" will allow Australians to opt out of receiving gambling ads, while inducements will be limited in some circumstances. The register could take up to 12 months to set up, and the system's complexity and privacy concerns have been questioned by industry sources. The Liberal backbencher Andrew Wallace criticized the reforms as inadequate, calling for a stronger stance against the gambling industry.