Well, the Government and Opposition have teamed up to protect the interests of the gambling lobby yet again. Minor tweaks and piecemeal amendments to this bad bill won’t address the wave of gambling harm washing over this country. It won’t protect children. It won’t break the nexus between gambling and sport. It won’t stop the suicides.
The job of a Member of Parliament is to represent their community, not the predators in the gambling industry and their fellow travellers in the media companies and major sporting codes. It’s clearer now than ever that on this issue the major parties care only for their mates and the profits of these corporations.
The evidence on gambling harm has been overwhelming for years. We know what works. We know what the community wants. We know the recommendations that need to be implemented. What has been lacking is political courage.
We should mark this day in our calendars as one of national shame.