1.1        Labor Senators take this opportunity to reiterate their strong views around online gambling and the importance of harm minimisation measures.

1.2        Labor recognises that well-regulated gambling has a place in Australian society and that the growth of illegal online gambling has been of great concern. While the majority of people who bet gamble in a responsible manner, Labor knows that gambling in our community can, in some cases, have devastating social, financial and emotional consequences.

1.3        For this reason, Labor Senators supported the first tranche of reform, the government's Interactive Gambling Bill 2016 which passed the Senate in August 2017.

1.4        With a consistent approach around supporting harm minimisation measures Labor Senators did not support an amendment to the government's bill proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party in relation to legalising online casino-style poker and blackjack services.

1.5        Labor Senators note that in November 2016 an announcement was made that agreement had been reached between Australian, state and territory governments to establish a National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering.

1.6        We also note that the Communiqué distributed after the Ministers' meeting on Illegal Offshore Wagering Reform on 8 September 2017 stated the Ministers agreed in-principle to a range of harm minimisation measures to be included in the National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering. We again reiterate our previous position that while Labor is supportive and welcomes progress of a National Consumer Protection Framework this important work must not be delayed.

1.7        Labor Senators note that in a 12 September 2017 media statement, Senator David Leyonhjelm states that he has received a letter from the Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, advising that he has instructed the Department of Communications and the Arts to undertake some preliminary work examining the feasibility of Australian onshore providers obtaining licences to operate online poker. The media statement was released in the context of negotiations on the Turnbull Government's Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Bill 2017.

Senator Anne Urquhart                                            Senator Anthony Chisholm
Senator for Tasmania                                               Senator for Queensland

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