When the prime minister answered a question about protecting children from gambling harm he gave statistics that mystified experts and advocates. The source of the figures remains a mystery.
The PM pulled out a mystery statistic when defending a partial ban on gambling ads. It's left experts stumpedThe PM pulled out a mystery statistic when defending a partial ban on gambling ads. It's left experts stumpedWhen the prime minister got up in question time last month to answer a query from Independent MP Zali Steggall about protecting children from gambling harm, he gave an answer that mystified experts and advocates.
Anthony Albanese brought lotteries into the debate as part of his justification for avoiding a blanket ban on gambling advertising.The MPs who'd sat on the parliamentary inquiry into online betting harms, chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, must've been tearing their hair out at the level of debate.
"A number of us looked for those figures immediately and weren't able to identify them from any public identifiable source," she says.Photo shows Side of man's face just visible. He holds phone with 'Bet' on the screen. Blurred TV plays sport in background. The figures also troubled Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock, who was concerned the prime minister was getting too much of his information from vested interests rather than experts.
However, Senator Pocock believes the figures quoted by the prime minister are remarkably similar to those made by Peter V'landys, one of the most powerful sporting administrators in the country and a man Mr Albanese invited to a White House state dinner with President Biden in October last year. There's another curious aspect to this whole debate around the supposed harms of lotteries. The minister responsible for bringing in any form of advertising ban last year has previously dismissed concerns around this popular form of gambling, putting herself at odds with the prime minister's subsequent comments in parliament.
The cost of problem gambling is much bigger than the projected cost to the free-to-air television industry of a gambling ad ban — but those paying it are more disparate, less audible, and less good at lobbying.
Gambling Ban Advertising Gambling Ad Ban Pokies Anthony Albanese Lotto Lotteries David Pocock Peter V'landys Samantha Thomas Australian Gambling Statistics
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