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 betting addict to convince wagering business about reforms, not her.
Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies addiction that practically resulted in her taking her own life.
Ms Seselja stated Ms Wells told her throughout a meeting in August 2025 it was not the minister who needed convincing about gambling reforms however the wagering companies, tv networks and sporting codes that produced profits from betting.
"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja told AAP.
"To be asked if I had actually tried to have conferences with them, as a lived experience advocate, was dreadful.
"To have that level of disconnect to the truth of gambling harm dealt with by countless Australians, to recommend that people with lived experience go meet 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 conference, proved the exchange.
Ms Wells' office did not deny the comment was made, stating the minister welcomed the opportunity to meet the two supporters to listen to their experience with betting damage.
A representative indicated Labor federal government procedures including the introduction of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a ban on credit cards for online betting and changes to cautioning taglines after advertisements.
"The Australian government takes seriously our duty to safeguard Australians, particularly young and susceptible individuals, from the harms of online gaming," the spokesperson stated.
Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's remarks a betrayal of Australians experiencing gambling harm, saying they were "shocking however unfortunately not surprising".
"Being to lobby the betting industry yourself, after a decade of tireless advocacy and nearly losing your life to addiction, is a profound failure of management," she stated.
Ms Seselja stated staff from the communication minister's office told her to keep defending reforms throughout a subsequent meeting in March.
"I really broke down and lost it at the staffer, since I stated to her, if you're not going to do your task, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja stated.
"People are dying and no one is stopping the carnage."
Independent senator David Pocock described Ms Seselja's recount as deeply troubling, while independent MP Monique Ryan assaulted the federal 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 total failure of government", adding he was gobsmacked the federal government had actually not responded to a gaming damage report launched practically 1000 days ago.
The landmark report into gambling harm handed down in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy recommended a phase-out of advertising, suppressing inducements and an overarching national harm-reduction structure.
