BY LIAM COLLINS
Proposed reforms on gambling advertisements has spurred Lyne MP Alison Penfold to call for community input.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026, introduced to the Federal Parliament on Thursday, is looking to ban gambling advertising during live sport broadcasts, on sporting uniforms and at sports venues, as well as stronger protections for children online.
The bill comes three years after the landmark 2023 Murphy review, a parliamentary inquiry spearheaded by the late MP Peter Murphy which sought to research the harms of online gambling and make recommendations.
Alison Penfold released a survey to residents of her electorate, asking locals what they thought of the proposed reforms.
She said we have to be careful of gambling advertising around a younger sporting audience.
“I’ve heard stories from teachers where kids aren’t talking about the footy teams that are playing, they’re talking about the odds of who’s going to win, and that has real concern,” she said.
So far, her survey has highlighted a majority support for the reforms from its over 500 responses across the Lyne electorate.
Ms Penfold said the clear, straight-forward responses to the survey were incredibly helpful.
“People have certainly got strong views on this… these are very important matters,” she said.
“I really appreciate people telling me their stories, their family stories, the pain and suffering that comes with someone who’s been addicted to gambling.”
The responses will be used to construct her arguments on the reforms, once it’s debated in Parliament in mid-August.
The survey is available online and is open until July 24.
Lyne MP Alison Penfold.