Australia politics live: parliament returns as Labor seeks deals on NDIS, gambling ads and news bargaining reforms

Independent MP Kate Chaney has accused the Labor government of "listening to the money and the power" rather than the evidence regarding its proposed reforms to gambling advertising. Chaney, who served on a parliamentary inquiry into gambling harm, expressed disappointment with the current talks between the Coalition and Labor on a gambling reform package.

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In 2017, when the last round of partial restrictions came in, the money just moved around. And for example, gambling ads after 8.30 more than doubled, increased 131%. And I suspect that that’s what we’re going to see here too: is the money moving around.

Chaney specifically criticized the government's proposal to limit online gambling ads on television to three per hour between 6 am and 8:30 pm. She argued that previous partial bans on gambling ads did not reduce their overall presence but merely shifted them to different time slots. "I suspect that that’s what we’re going to see here too: is the money moving around," Chaney stated, suggesting that gambling companies, which make significant political donations and employ lobbyists, are unduly influencing government policy.

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I think it is about the government listening to the money and the power, not the people.

She further contended that media companies and sports organizations also profit from gambling, and that "Australians pay the cost for that." Chaney highlighted that the average Australian household loses more to gambling than they spend on electricity, calling it a "blind spot" for the government.

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The gambling companies make big political donations. They are present lobbyists in this building. We’re hearing their talking points coming out of the prime minister’s mouth.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher addressed the housing market, stating the government adheres to Treasury advice that house prices would continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace. She acknowledged that mortgage applications have decreased but attributed this to a range of factors, including interest rate increases, not solely government policy changes like those to negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts. Gallagher emphasized the government's focus on tax changes to assist first-home buyers and on increasing housing supply.

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Unfortunately, Australians pay the cost for that. And the average Australian household loses more in gambling than they pay for in electricity. So this is our blind spot.