Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a second time to discuss proposed gambling legislation reforms. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Labor and the Coalition have held a second round of "constructive" talks on the federal government's proposal to restrict gambling advertising, making a major party deal likely.
Negotiations have focused on VIP inducements, protections for self-excluded gamblers and online advertising rules, while there are also calls for an independent review.
The federal government is hoping to get its gambling legislation through the Senate in the next fortnight, meaning the Coalition party room would have to sign off on a final deal within days.
The Coalition is seeking a targeted crackdown on VIP gambling inducements offered to high rollers and a simplified option to curb ads on streaming services amid ongoing "constructive" gambling bill talks with the federal government.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met early Tuesday evening for a second time in as many days to hash out details of an expected agreement to amend Labor’s proposed gambling ad restrictions.
Major changes such as an "opt-in" system for online advertising or a total ban on so-called gambling inducements are not on the table from either side, with Mr Albanese having previously indicated he would not entertain a wholesale rewrite of the draft legislation.
Drugs, sex and multi-million dollar high rollers are themes more often featured in a Hollywood film than a parliamentary hearing, but this week's gambling inquiry has been the exception.
Instead, the asks put forward by Mr Taylor and Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson have focused on stronger protections for children and vulnerable people from exposure to advertising or predatory industry tactics.
With a modest deal seeming increasingly likely, gambling harm reduction advocates within the Coalition are calling for the bill to include an automatic independent review of the measures in the future.
It is hoped this would eventually expose what they believe are flaws in the legislation and create the case for further changes in the next term of government.
Labor is seeking to pass the legislation through the Senate by the end of the fortnight, which Mr Taylor is understood to be open to though is not in a rush this week as he has committed to take a final proposal back to the full Coalition party room for sign off.
Rather than a broader crackdown on so-called gambling inducements, such as bonus bet offers, the Coalition has instead asked Labor for amendments focused on vulnerable and high-spending gamblers.
This included creating some type of cooling period preventing gambling companies from sending any inducements to Australians immediately after they remove themselves from the government’s self-exclusion register Betstop.
The Opposition has also suggested targeting VIP offers extended to high rollers, such as access to exclusive events, game day tickets or large bonus-bet offers.
