Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Stunning'.

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Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of supporters and crossbenchers for telling a former gaming addict to persuade betting companies about reforms, not her.


Kate Seselja overcame a pokies addiction that practically resulted in her taking her own life.


Ms Seselja stated Ms Wells told her throughout a conference in August 2025 it was not the minister who needed convincing about gambling reforms but the betting companies, tv networks and sporting codes that produced revenue from betting.


"I was flabbergasted," Ms AAP.


"To be asked if I had actually tried to have conferences with them, as a lived experience supporter, was dreadful.


"To have that level of detach to the truth of betting harm faced by countless Australians, to suggest that people with lived experience go consult with these predators, made me lose belief in the political system."


Fellow supporter Anna Bardsley from the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who likewise participated in the meeting, proved the exchange.


Ms Wells' office did not deny the remark was made, saying the minister welcomed the opportunity to consult with the 2 advocates to listen to their experience with betting damage.


A spokesperson indicated Labor federal government steps including the intro of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a ban on credit cards for online gaming and modifications to warning taglines after ads.


"The Australian government takes seriously our responsibility to protect Australians, particularly young and susceptible people, from the damages of online gambling," the representative stated.


Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's remarks a betrayal of Australians experiencing gambling damage, saying they were "stunning but regrettably not unexpected".


"Being informed to lobby the betting industry yourself, after a decade of determined advocacy and nearly losing your life to addiction, is an extensive failure of management," she said.


Ms Seselja stated personnel from the communication minister's workplace informed her to keep defending reforms during a subsequent meeting in March.


"I actually 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 said.


"People are passing away and nobody is stopping the carnage."


Independent senator David Pocock explained Ms Seselja's recount as deeply uncomfortable, while independent MP Monique Ryan attacked the federal government for failing to take responsibility for the concern or stand up to beneficial interests.


Alliance for Gambling Reform chief supporter Tim Costello branded the remarks and inaction on the concern "a total failure of federal government", including he was gobsmacked the federal government had actually not responded to a betting harm report launched almost 1000 days ago.


The landmark report into gambling damage bied far in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy advised a phase-out of marketing, curbing incentives and an overarching national harm-reduction structure.

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