5/30/2024

Today I rise to add my contribution to the debate on the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024. I feel that in the country itself, in Australia, the conversation around gambling is starting to change. We have indeed been a country that likes to have punt, and gambling has been part of our culture, whether that be TattsLotto tickets, horse racing, casinos, betting on sport, and now we have got a culture around betting on our phones - betting on anything really. It is a culture that has shifted. But we are getting better at identifying those issues that we are seeing with problem gambling. We have those in our community who can gamble responsibly, but there are many in our community who cannot do that. I have heard some contributions about it being an addiction, and I certainly concur with those sorts of remarks. This is a health issue that we are now particularly dealing with in our communities, gambling.

When the conversations have changed and the evidence has changed, we in this place - I would probably like to confirm that it has been more this side of the chamber - have always been up for the debate and up for the reforms that are needed. If we have evidence in front of us and expert advice, regardless of what topic it is, we have a duty to listen, to look at that and to ask: 'What can we do here in this place to better our community with our legislation and reforms?' We have always been a party to do that. This is another example of that, where we are modernising and listening to the experts to make some reform.

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, established many years ago in 2012, was at the time a necessary step. We admit that. It was there to address that prevalence around problem gambling. However, as I have indicated, our understanding of gambling harm has matured, and so too must our strategies in addressing that.

Last year the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation announced some of our most significant packages in gambling reforms. These reforms included mandatory carded play, precommitments, standardised closing times, reducing load-up limits and slowing the spin rates. At the time I remember speaking in this place about the amount of people that those reforms were really addressing. It was estimated that around half a million Victorians are experiencing gambling harm, and it may be related to their own gambling habits but it may also be from someone else's gambling at their own cost - say, someone in their family. This cost is around 10,944,874.20. In March of the same year it had nearly reached 165m over four years is unchanged, and the functions of the disbanded ... Foundation ... will ... reflect more of a 'whole of government' approach ...

This is the reason why we have this bill in front of us today as well. Our government's new model of prevention and response therefore will be in several departments: the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Community Safety as well. By adopting this bill, we are really taking a decisive step towards that more integrated, effective and compassionate approach to reducing gambling harm, and together we can support those that are affected by this to build a healthier and safer Victoria for all. I thank the minister for her work on this reform, and I am proud that we have a government that is ready and willing to make these reforms to help our most vulnerable.