Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Shocking'.
Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of advocates and crossbenchers for telling a previous gaming addict to convince betting companies about reforms, not her.
Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies dependency that almost caused her taking her own life.
Ms Seselja stated Ms Wells informed her during a meeting in August 2025 it was not the minister who needed convincing about betting reforms but the wagering companies, television networks and codes that created profits from gambling.
"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja told AAP.
"To be asked if I had tried to have meetings with them, as a lived experience supporter, was horrific.
"To have that level of detach to the reality of gambling harm dealt with by countless Australians, to suggest that people with lived experience go satisfy with these predators, made me lose belief in the political system."
Fellow advocate Anna Bardsley from the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who likewise went to the meeting, substantiated the exchange.
Ms Wells' office did not reject the comment was made, stating the minister invited the opportunity to meet the two advocates to listen to their experience with gambling damage.
A representative indicated Labor federal government steps consisting of the intro of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a ban on credit cards for online betting and changes to alerting taglines after advertisements.
"The Australian government takes seriously our obligation to protect Australians, particularly young and susceptible individuals, from the damages of online gambling," the spokesperson said.
Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's comments a betrayal of Australians experiencing betting harm, saying they were "shocking however sadly not unexpected".
"Being informed to lobby the gaming market yourself, after a decade of tireless advocacy and almost losing your life to addiction, is a profound failure of leadership," she said.
Ms Seselja stated personnel from the communication minister's office told her to keep defending reforms during a subsequent conference in March.
"I in fact broke down and lost it at the staffer, due to the fact that I said to her, if you're not going to do your task, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja stated.
"People are passing away and no one is stopping the carnage."
Independent senator David Pocock explained Ms Seselja's recount as deeply troubling, while independent MP Monique Ryan assaulted the government for stopping working to take obligation for the concern or withstand vested interests.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello branded the remarks and inactiveness on the issue "a complete failure of government", adding he was gobsmacked the federal government had actually not responded to a gaming harm report released practically 1000 days back.
The landmark report into gambling harm bied far in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy recommended a phase-out of advertising, curbing temptations and an overarching national harm-reduction framework.
