Ministerial Statement

GAMBLING ADVERTISING

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:22): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is no secret that Australians love a punt. For many South Australians it is seen as a mainstream leisure activity, a bit of harmless fun that brings pleasure and excitement and that is enjoyed responsibly by the vast majority of people. However, for some South Australians gambling is a problem, a harmful addiction that can ruin lives. There can be no doubt that gambling has infiltrated our sporting culture to the extent where the two are almost inseparable. When the betting odds in AFL are mentioned almost as often as the score, it is clear that gambling advertising in sport is inescapable.

There has been a growing tide of concern amongst parents who, like me, are concerned about our children being exposed to a prolific amount of gambling advertising during sports broadcasts. We have seen television networks give prominence to betting odds and returns prior to and during live telecasts, with discussion by commentators linking the form of a team to the returns for betting on its success. We have seen betting odds and returns run across our television screens during live coverage of sports. This behaviour seems to normalise gambling as part of watching sport. It is for this reason the government is taking steps to bring forward restrictions on live odds advertising and a raft of reforms to gaming machine laws.

If implemented, these reforms will go a long way in helping reduce the intolerable burden of problem gamblers in our communities. I can announce today that the Independent Gambling Authority has completed the consultation phase and has considered all submissions into its review concerning live odds advertising. The IGA will now proceed through the formal steps of implementation and will by notice in the Gazette prescribe the advertising code of practice. It will mean that from 1 August South Australians will no longer be bombarded with live odds advertising on commercial television, pay TV, radio or at sporting grounds. It will mean celebrity bookmakers will no longer be able to integrate themselves into the coverage or blur the lines between commentary and advertising.

For those betting agencies who breach the regulations, they face on-the-spot fines of $10,000, fines of $100,000, and withdrawal of the authorisation to operate in South Australia. The banning of live odds advertising is just one step the state government is taking to minimise the harm of problem gambling. According to the Productivity Commission, of the $19 billion gambled by Australians each year, 60 per cent is lost to the pokies. Approximately 600,000 people play the poker machines each week, but only 15 per cent of those players account for 40 per cent of all losses.

This 15 per cent represents the problem gamblers: people who are addicted to poker machine playing, who are most often the people who can least afford to lose so much. Currently, a player can lose an average of $1,200 per hour on a standard Australian poker machine. It is imperative that all of us in this place take problem gambling seriously and do not miss the opportunity to address problem gambling that continues to have such a devastating effect on too many South Australians.