Live: Anti-gambling advocates hope inquiry will push Labor to make ad laws stronger

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government's gambling advertising reforms go further than Peta Murphy's report.

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Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:53am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:53am

Pat Conroy stands by calling former PM Menzies a 'Nazi appeaser'

By Joshua Boscaini

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy told the the National Press Club yesterday that former Australian prime minister Robert Menzies a "Nazi appeaser".

The opposition wasn't happy about it and tried to get up a censure motion in the lower house yesterday aimed at the minister. But it failed because the Coalition doesn't have the numbers.

Conroy appeared on Channel Nine this morning where it looked like he was making no apologies for his comment.

"It's a historical fact. I was making a speech about Labor's proud record of supporting defence in a speech about progressive patriotism. My main point is the right of politics doesn't own security policy," Conroy says.

"He [Menzies] had a policy of appeasement. The Liberals' argument isn't with me, it's with history. Anyone can see the documents in the National Archives."

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:36am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:36am

Pocock says public servants should be able to escalate decisions on aged care assessments

By Joshua Boscaini

David Pocock says he thinks public servants should be able to raise concerns about decisions made by an algorithm

Labor partly backed down on its algorithm-based Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) which made decision about an individual's aged care funding.

Yesterday, the aged care minister announced the tool can now be changed in "extenuating circumstances".

Pocock, an ACT senator, told ABC Radio National Breakfast that public servants should be able to escalate decisions made by the IAT.

"At the point that the algorithm makes a decision, we currently have a public servant who simply gets to rubber stamp that and haven't been able to actually change it.

"I think at that point, if they're looking at it, they should be able to raise concerns and escalate it.

"Clearly, there are efficiencies in using technology to help make these decisions, but we cannot lose human oversight and I'm really concerned as a parliament that the number of bills and delegated legislation that aren't even in bills, ministers just making directives when it comes to automated decision making."

Key Event

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:10am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:10am

Liberal frontbencher calls for amendments to social media laws to be tougher

By Joshua Boscaini

Liberal frontbencher Sarah Henderson says Labor's amendments to its social media ban for under 16s aren't tough enough.

Maximum penalties would be doubled for tech companies in breach of the laws, and the eSafety Commissioner's powers will be strengthened to ensure tech companies comply under the legislation.

But speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Henderson while the bill tries to make the laws stronger, they're not strong enough.

"Now that this bill is before the parliament, we are not going to stand by and watch this minister Anika Wells' incompetence continue to compromise the online safety of Australian children," Henderson says.

"We will interrogate this bill properly, and frankly, I think the amendments before the parliament need to be tougher."

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:03am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 8:03am

Henderson says Labor's gambling ad bill doesn't go far enough

By Joshua Boscaini

Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson says she's concerned Labor's gambling advertising bill isn't strong enough.

The bill will limit TV and radio ads during certain times, creates an opt-out feature for online platforms and prohibits "notable" people from making sponsored content.

But the legislation doesn't go as far as the Murphy inquiry's recommendations, which called for a complete ban on online gambling ads.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Henderson says the Coalition is concerned a prohibition on gambling ads during live sport has been removed.

However the shadow minister couldn't say which parts of the bill the opposition would like to change.

The Victorian senator says she won't prejudge where the Coalition will land on the bill.

"In the exposure draft that was released, we were horrified to find that the current prohibition on gambling ads during live sport had been removed," Henderson says.

"Now, there's question marks about sort of letting some of these big boys off the hook in relation to what's allowed online. We need to interrogate that because it's very complex."

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:51am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:51am

Labor 'considering very carefully' committee's recommendations into NDIS fraud

By Joshua Boscaini

Health Minister Mark Butler says the government is "considering very carefully" recommendations from a Labor-led inquiry into NDIS fraud.

It made 12 recommendations, including calling for stronger action on conflicts of interest and penalties for providers offering kickbacks.

Among their concerns were the scheme's original design, how fast it was rolled out, the exploitation of participants by sophisticated criminals, and insufficient regulatory power.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, the health minister says the government is working on some of the matters raised by the committee already.

"We've had a couple of discussions with the opposition about some of these issues. They're very keen on making sure we maximise our ability to clamp down on fraud and integrity issues in the scheme," Butler says.

"But we'll work through that report as we will the other inquiry."

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:37am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:37am

Albanese says delay on tougher social media laws will cause big tech to 'delete' material

By Joshua Boscaini

The PM says the delay in passing tougher laws for social media companies who don't comply with the under-16s social media ban will allow big tech to "delete a whole lot of material".

Maximum penalties would be doubled for tech companies in breach of the laws, and the eSafety Commissioner's powers will be strengthened to ensure tech companies comply.

But the bill has been referred to an eight-week Senate inquiry by the Coalition and the Greens.

Anthony Albanese says the delay is "outrageous".

"The eSafety commissioner has said what she needs is more powers, powers to get documents and powers to get the information from the big companies," Albanese says.

"What the eSafety commissioner has said very clearly is that [the delay] will allow the platforms to go and just delete a whole lot of material."

Key Event

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:26am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:26am

PM defends gambling ad legislation, says he's 'not against someone having a punt'

By Joshua Boscaini

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just called into ABC Radio Sydney to talk all things Western Sydney Airport.

He's also been questioned about the federal government's gambling advertising changes which were introduced to parliament yesterday.

The legislation limits TV and radio ads during certain times, creates an opt-out feature for online platforms and prohibits "notable" people from making sponsored content.

But the bill doesn't go as far as what former Labor MP Peta Murphy's inquiry called for — a complete ban on online gambling advertising.

The prime minister has backed the legislation, saying he's "not against someone having a punt".

He says the changes in some ways go further that the Murphy inquiry's recommendations went.

"What I'm against is problem gambling, which overwhelmingly, by the way, overwhelmingly is poker machines which is of course, regulated by the states," Albanese says.

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:11am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 7:11am

Anti-gambling advocates hopeful inquiry will push govt to strengthen advertising laws

By Pablo Viñales

Anti-gambling advocates are hopeful a lengthy inquiry into the federal government's legislation to restrict gambling advertising will put more pressure on Labor to strengthen it.

Labor's bill to limit gambling ads on TV, radio and online will face further scrutiny during an eight-week Senate inquiry.

While the prime minister insists the reform is "a major step forward", the Greens, Coalition and crossbench argue it doesn't go far enough.

Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts co-founder Anna Bardsley says the policy should go further.

"Only a total ban on gambling advertising is the only way to ensure that children aren't exposed to it and that they aren't," Bardsley says.

"The danger of advertising is that it shows everybody, including even very young children, that gambling is a normal part of life and it isn't, and it shouldn't be."

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 6:57am

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 6:57am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us early this Friday morning.

I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

It's the end of the double-sitting week here on the hill, but there are still a few bits and pieces hanging around today.

Let's get into the day and see what it brings us!