Party's over: the election trend that threatens majors
Incumbent premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor's Dean Winter are courting the support of independents after Saturday's snap poll delivered another hung parliament.
With three seats still in doubt, the Liberals have secured 14 and Labor nine - both short of the 18 needed for a majority, with the Greens on five and four independents.
Mr Rockliff has declared he has a mandate to govern with the most seats, but Mr Winter hasn't ruled out relying on confidence and supply of the Greens to govern.
Several independents have said they're open to backing either Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as the state's next premier.
With three-quarters of the count completed, Labor's primary vote has dropped 3.2 per cent to 25.8 - the lowest for the party in Tasmanian history.
It came despite a massive swing toward Labor in the state at the May federal poll.
The Liberals ran a campaign narrative of laying the blame for an early election at the feet of Mr Winter, after a Labor-led no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff was successful.
"It may have been a case of 'we've given you a chance and rewarded you at federal level and now you want to be rewarded again?'," election analyst Kevin Bonham said of Labor's poor showing.
Labor has been in opposition since 2014 and has struggled for traction despite ballooning net debt and infrastructure stuff-ups under the Liberals.
The Liberals picked up a 3.2 per cent swing with a primary vote of 39.9 per cent, well away from their 48.7 per cent when they were elected in majority in 2021.
One-third of the state didn't vote for the major two parties, with several independents increasing their support.
The Liberals were plunged into minority in 2023 when two MPs quit to the crossbench. A snap 2024 poll delivered a hung parliament but Labor refused to govern.
While it wasn't the end of majority government, it was now more difficult for the majors to get there, Dr Bonham said.
A roughly 20 per cent cohort of voters who traditionally swung between the major parties in Tasmania had seemingly broken down, he said.
Labor went to the election without big vote-getter Rebecca White, who has switched to federal politics, and popular ex-Speaker Michelle O'Byrne, who retired.
The Liberals ran ex-federal MPs Bridget Archer and Gavin Pearce, who were both elected.
Tasmania's politicians might need to get used to sharing power amid a falling Labor vote and crossbench rise.
Incumbent premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor's Dean Winter are courting the support of independents after Saturday's snap poll delivered another hung parliament.
With three seats still in doubt, the Liberals have secured 14 and Labor nine - both short of the 18 needed for a majority, with the Greens on five and four independents.
Mr Rockliff has declared he has a mandate to govern with the most seats, but Mr Winter hasn't ruled out relying on confidence and supply of the Greens to govern.
Several independents have said they're open to backing either Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as the state's next premier.
With three-quarters of the count completed, Labor's primary vote has dropped 3.2 per cent to 25.8 - the lowest for the party in Tasmanian history.
It came despite a massive swing toward Labor in the state at the May federal poll.
The Liberals ran a campaign narrative of laying the blame for an early election at the feet of Mr Winter, after a Labor-led no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff was successful.
"It may have been a case of 'we've given you a chance and rewarded you at federal level and now you want to be rewarded again?'," election analyst Kevin Bonham said of Labor's poor showing.
Labor has been in opposition since 2014 and has struggled for traction despite ballooning net debt and infrastructure stuff-ups under the Liberals.
The Liberals picked up a 3.2 per cent swing with a primary vote of 39.9 per cent, well away from their 48.7 per cent when they were elected in majority in 2021.
One-third of the state didn't vote for the major two parties, with several independents increasing their support.
The Liberals were plunged into minority in 2023 when two MPs quit to the crossbench. A snap 2024 poll delivered a hung parliament but Labor refused to govern.
While it wasn't the end of majority government, it was now more difficult for the majors to get there, Dr Bonham said.
A roughly 20 per cent cohort of voters who traditionally swung between the major parties in Tasmania had seemingly broken down, he said.
Labor went to the election without big vote-getter Rebecca White, who has switched to federal politics, and popular ex-Speaker Michelle O'Byrne, who retired.
The Liberals ran ex-federal MPs Bridget Archer and Gavin Pearce, who were both elected.
Tasmania's politicians might need to get used to sharing power amid a falling Labor vote and crossbench rise.
Incumbent premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor's Dean Winter are courting the support of independents after Saturday's snap poll delivered another hung parliament.
With three seats still in doubt, the Liberals have secured 14 and Labor nine - both short of the 18 needed for a majority, with the Greens on five and four independents.
Mr Rockliff has declared he has a mandate to govern with the most seats, but Mr Winter hasn't ruled out relying on confidence and supply of the Greens to govern.
Several independents have said they're open to backing either Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as the state's next premier.
With three-quarters of the count completed, Labor's primary vote has dropped 3.2 per cent to 25.8 - the lowest for the party in Tasmanian history.
It came despite a massive swing toward Labor in the state at the May federal poll.
The Liberals ran a campaign narrative of laying the blame for an early election at the feet of Mr Winter, after a Labor-led no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff was successful.
"It may have been a case of 'we've given you a chance and rewarded you at federal level and now you want to be rewarded again?'," election analyst Kevin Bonham said of Labor's poor showing.
Labor has been in opposition since 2014 and has struggled for traction despite ballooning net debt and infrastructure stuff-ups under the Liberals.
The Liberals picked up a 3.2 per cent swing with a primary vote of 39.9 per cent, well away from their 48.7 per cent when they were elected in majority in 2021.
One-third of the state didn't vote for the major two parties, with several independents increasing their support.
The Liberals were plunged into minority in 2023 when two MPs quit to the crossbench. A snap 2024 poll delivered a hung parliament but Labor refused to govern.
While it wasn't the end of majority government, it was now more difficult for the majors to get there, Dr Bonham said.
A roughly 20 per cent cohort of voters who traditionally swung between the major parties in Tasmania had seemingly broken down, he said.
Labor went to the election without big vote-getter Rebecca White, who has switched to federal politics, and popular ex-Speaker Michelle O'Byrne, who retired.
The Liberals ran ex-federal MPs Bridget Archer and Gavin Pearce, who were both elected.
Tasmania's politicians might need to get used to sharing power amid a falling Labor vote and crossbench rise.
Incumbent premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor's Dean Winter are courting the support of independents after Saturday's snap poll delivered another hung parliament.
With three seats still in doubt, the Liberals have secured 14 and Labor nine - both short of the 18 needed for a majority, with the Greens on five and four independents.
Mr Rockliff has declared he has a mandate to govern with the most seats, but Mr Winter hasn't ruled out relying on confidence and supply of the Greens to govern.
Several independents have said they're open to backing either Mr Rockliff or Mr Winter as the state's next premier.
With three-quarters of the count completed, Labor's primary vote has dropped 3.2 per cent to 25.8 - the lowest for the party in Tasmanian history.
It came despite a massive swing toward Labor in the state at the May federal poll.
The Liberals ran a campaign narrative of laying the blame for an early election at the feet of Mr Winter, after a Labor-led no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff was successful.
"It may have been a case of 'we've given you a chance and rewarded you at federal level and now you want to be rewarded again?'," election analyst Kevin Bonham said of Labor's poor showing.
Labor has been in opposition since 2014 and has struggled for traction despite ballooning net debt and infrastructure stuff-ups under the Liberals.
The Liberals picked up a 3.2 per cent swing with a primary vote of 39.9 per cent, well away from their 48.7 per cent when they were elected in majority in 2021.
One-third of the state didn't vote for the major two parties, with several independents increasing their support.
The Liberals were plunged into minority in 2023 when two MPs quit to the crossbench. A snap 2024 poll delivered a hung parliament but Labor refused to govern.
While it wasn't the end of majority government, it was now more difficult for the majors to get there, Dr Bonham said.
A roughly 20 per cent cohort of voters who traditionally swung between the major parties in Tasmania had seemingly broken down, he said.
Labor went to the election without big vote-getter Rebecca White, who has switched to federal politics, and popular ex-Speaker Michelle O'Byrne, who retired.
The Liberals ran ex-federal MPs Bridget Archer and Gavin Pearce, who were both elected.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
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Buoyant Albanese plots next phase of Labor dynasty
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a greater role for the government in childcare as he prepares to push through legislation tightening up the sector following horrifying allegations of child abuse at Melbourne early learning centres. Universal affordable childcare was identified by the prime minister during the recent federal election as the one reform he'd most want to be remembered for. But the accusations levelled against Joshua Brown, whose 70 counts of alleged abuse, including child rape, have raised concerns that the rapid expansion of government subsidies into the sector has not been met with a commensurate increase in safety and scrutiny. "Well, it reinforces why you need a stronger commonwealth role in childcare," Mr Albanese said when asked by AAP whether the case had changed his views on how his universal childcare ambition should be enacted. Commentators have criticised the current model of handing subsidies to for-profit providers, arguing the incentive to cut costs and boost margins sacrifices standards and oversight. When asked whether he envisaged the sector being run more like public schools, Mr Albanese said "we'll see how that evolves". "I think it makes sense to have co-location of childcare centres wherever possible in schools. It is just a practical thing to be done. "If you're starting again you would completely have co-location of child care. "I know as a parent, we had a public school in our street but we had to send our son to a different school that was driving distance - a short drive - but the next nearest school, because they had after school care. "That's something that people across the board feel as well - that convenience - and that's part of the productivity agenda." But first, Education Minister Jason Clare will introduce legislation giving his department powers to conduct spot checks and pull funding from childcare centres deemed to be consistently failing safety and quality standards. It's one of four priorities Mr Albanese identified for his first sitting fortnight back in parliament since his swingeing election win. From Tuesday, the government will also push forward legislation cutting student debt by 20 per cent and enshrine penalty rates into law. The fourth priority, Mr Albanese, said will be seeing Labor's 24 new members sworn in and ensuring they all participate fully towards the government's long term goals. "I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back and seeing the outcome of the election in real form," he said. "You need to deliver for people what they need in order to then have the legitimacy to push forward on longer term changes." The prime minister was feeling buoyant as he flew back from a successful six-day tour of China, where he balanced tensions over Chinese military build-up and a mutual desire to strengthen economic ties. Amid coalition criticism that he had failed to deliver enough tangible outcomes, Mr Albanese hit back that they didn't understand how patiently nurturing the relationship would pay dividends in the long-term. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor's clumsy comments that Australia should be "prepared to act" alongside the US in conflict with China over Taiwan broke with the bipartisan "One China" policy in support of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Mr Albanese said. His eye is on a Labor dynasty to carve out a positive future for Australia in a challenging region. "One of the things we're very determined to do is to have long-term Labor government in Australia so that we can implement the long-term changes that Australia needs. "The world is changing fast and you can either shape that change or it will shape you."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Our gambling problem is infuriating and depressing. Here's how we can change the game
Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government. Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week after Labor's stunning electoral success, and with it comes a mandate for brave policy action. The first sitting closely follows the second anniversary of the release of the landmark Murphy Report into online gambling, a blueprint to take Australia from the world's biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community. In those two years, there has been a depressing silence. The government has not even officially responded to the report despite promises that it would honour the legacy of the late Peta Murphy, the Labor MP who headed the parliamentary inquiry and who lost her life to cancer. Yet rather than being depressed, I am optimistic that the re-elected Albanese government will find a pathway forward to introduce real and lasting gambling reform. The reasons for my optimism exist both within the parliament and the government itself as well as out in the community. Firstly, within the government, courageous MPs are pushing the government to act on gambling reform - the key lightning rod for action is the recommendation for a ban on all gambling ads, phased in over three years. There are also many MPs across the Parliament - both new and re-elected - that are determined to fight for change. The new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, who negotiated the implementation of the royal commission recommendations into aged care to a large and diverse sector is also a factor. I believe she will be given a mandate to negotiate new changes that would at the very least see the partial implementation of the 31 recommendations of the Murphy inquiry report. An excellent start would be to implement a ban on inducements. When you try to give up gambling, betting agencies will reach out to you and offer you free bets or free tickets to the footy. The fact is betting agencies don't want customers who win when they bet, but they are hell-bent on keeping you if you are losing. Also, a strong ban on online gambling adverts would be another great starting point. Australians are assailed by 1 million gambling ads a year. Murphy's report recommended a phased shift to a total gambling ad ban. This could start with further restrictions on free-to-air TV advertising to ensure gambling ads are not viewed in general viewing times when popular programs such as MasterChef or Lego Masters are aired. It's a nonsense to think children only watch TV in the designated "child viewing times" before 8.30pm - when gambling ads are banned. And there is a strong case to start moving towards a national strategy that treats gambling as a health issue and a national gambling regulator - as the states and territories have repeatedly proven to be unable or unwilling to rein in the powerful and predatory betting agencies. Since the last parliament sat, a stream of significant research and polls makes a powerful case for change. And this is my second reason for optimism. Polling from The Australian Institute shows that 85 per cent of Australians want greater restrictions on gambling advertising and 76 per cent want all gambling ads banned. A key factor driving this is the fact our kids are being both overtly and covertly groomed by the gambling companies to bet. And research now shows that 600,000 kids - aged 12-17 - gambled a total of 18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke action. Other research has shown kids as young as 14 are being targeted on their social media feeds to download gambling apps. Parents I meet are furious that their kids are being targeted on social media by betting agencies and that they are being exposed to endless gambling ads because the two football codes, especially, have sold their souls to the bookmakers. The rate of sports betting is skyrocketing in Australia - it is growing at a rate of 40 per cent a year compared to growth in poker machines at 6 per cent. And it is particularly young men that are being drawn in. Roy Morgan research shows that 18-24 year olds are the most prevalent age segment to be betting on sports. And of those already, one in five have a gambling problem. The AFL itself has a growing crisis due to its embrace of gambling. A survey of player agents has revealed more than 76 per cent cite gambling among footballers as a grave concern. The Victorian government recently released figures (they are the only state to do so) on the social cost of gambling. It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the state government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break-up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion. When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion. It's time it became equally clear to our government.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Greens co-founder Drew Hutton says ‘transgender cult' has taken over the party and anyone who speaks out is being 'purged'
A Greens co-founder has hit out at party leader Larissa Waters for failing to stand up to the 'transgender and queer cult' that has taken over the party. Lifelong environmental activist Drew Hutton has taken to the pages of The Australian to warn that the party he helped create risks going the way of the Australian Democrats if 'purges' are allowed to continue. Mr Hutton played a crucial role in the formation of the Queensland Greens before co-founding the Australian Greens with former leader Bob Brown in the early 1990s. However Mr Hutton was suspended from the party's Queensland branch in 2023, and has since been expelled, after he refused to delete a social media post criticising the expulsion of a Victorian Greens member who had expressed dissenting views on the trans rights debate. 'The fact is that the Greens in a number of states have been taken over by a cult - a transgender and queer cult - that has come to control key decision-making positions in the party, such as disciplinary and preselection committees and administrative positions, that give them enormous power, and they use this to influence preselections and expel those who disagree with them,' Mr Hutton writes. 'Consequently, Greens politicians tread very lightly when it comes to policy areas such as gender for fear of losing preselection.' Mr Hutton declared he had become a "victim of this cult", deriding the party's decisive actions. 'I was expelled from the party, not because I made statements that opposed key beliefs of the Greens but because I refused to censor comments on a couple of Facebook posts that asserted that men were biological males and women were biological females," he said. He said 'cult position' inside the Greens is that people are whatever gender they define themselves as, and anyone who disagreed 'must be expelled' and cancelled. 'I was, therefore, told I had to censor all such comments from my Facebook posts. I refused on free speech grounds and so my membership was suspended, and then I was expelled when I continued to refuse,' he said The environmental activist has called out party leadership for failing to address the problem, stating Senator Waters – who he has long supported – 'should have intervened at the start to stop my expulsion" but had instead 'ducked for cover' in the hope the situation would blow over. But Senator Waters has defended the expulsion, stating it was made independently 'via the governance processes established by the membership' and that 'nobody is above the rules". Mr Hutton said there were at least 40 members of the Greens who had either been expelled or otherwise forced out of the party over gender related issues, a situation he described as 'a purge of 'green' Greens'. 'Many of those expelled have been great environmental campaigners with decades of loyal service to the party,' Mr Hutton said. Among those forced out of the party are 55-year-old Gail Hamilton, who has run for office as a Greens candidate three times since joining in 2000. 'I was expelled for arguing that it was appropriate for the principal of a girls' school to not enrol boys who identify as girls… I also objected to our MPs calling women 'uterus havers' and 'menstruators' on the basis that it is dehumanising,' Ms Hamilton told The Australian. The former Greens members said the expulsion process was 'like a kangaroo court' where she was not even given the 'space to defend myself'. Another was 70-year-old Cheryl Hercus, a proud lesbian who was forced out of the Victorian Greens for sharing articles that were critical of gender identity theory on social media. 'It just became obvious to me that the whole of the party had been captured by this ideology and to try and fight it from within was just huge,' she told The Australian. Ms Hercus said she resigned her membership before being expelled. According to Mr Hutton, failing to confront the 'cult' that had taken over the party would lead to half the Greens' supporter base abandoning the party. 'About half are young, relatively poor and likely to look favourably on candidates with radical identity politics. The other half are a little older, a little more prosperous, and have more liberal humanitarian than radical identity views,' he said of the Greens target voters. 'The other half are a little older, a little more prosperous, and have more liberal humanitarian than radical identity views. 'The former will possibly stick with the Greens despite their authoritarianism; the latter will probably desert them and give their votes to one or another of the major parties or, more likely, the teal independents. 'The result will be that the Greens will find their base vote is diminished and find it very difficult to win seats."
