Welcome to this week’s update on federal politics, with Gina Rushton stepping in for Courtney Gould to provide insights from Parliament House.
Although Parliament has yet to reconvene, the stage is set for political skirmishes anticipated when the winter recess concludes, and the Prime Minister returns from his vacation in Tasmania.
The discourse surrounding gambling regulations has commenced, the government is preparing to present its revised immigration policy, and the Treasurer has been making adjustments to his proposed tax reforms.
On Tuesday evening, Treasurer Jim Chalmers introduced four draft legislative proposals that amend his capital gains tax and negative gearing reforms, which were passed in late June. These drafts aim to address concerns over what critics have labeled a “widow’s tax,” which affects individuals inheriting investment properties from their spouses, as well as a so-called “death tax” that applies to disbursements from discretionary trusts established at the time of death.
Chalmers emphasized that these revisions demonstrate the government’s commitment to consultative processes regarding the tax reforms outlined in the budget. However, acting opposition leader Jane Hume dismissed his claims, asserting that Labor is merely attempting to rectify issues of its own making.
Next week, Chalmers will face significant pressure as the Coalition, One Nation, independent David Pocock, and the Greens plan to jointly advocate for the elimination of the “widow tax” during the upcoming parliamentary session.
In another development, gambling companies experienced mixed outcomes during a Senate inquiry into Labor’s wagering laws. Representatives from Sportsbet, Tabcorp, and Responsible Wagering Australia were summoned to defend their sector, which reportedly results in Australians incurring the highest gambling losses per capita, totaling approximately $32 billion annually, including from poker machines, according to an Equity Economics report commissioned by anti-gambling advocates last year.
Peter V’landys, chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission, referred to the senators leading the inquiry as “publicity-seeking extremists.” Meanwhile, the gambling companies spent considerable time addressing inquiries about promotional strategies, including images of children in Bet365 apparel and gambling advertisements appearing between Disney songs on Spotify.
The department officials tasked with overseeing Labor’s legislation encountered difficulties in justifying the proposed advertising restrictions. The legislation aims to limit gambling advertisements on television to three per hour between 6 AM and 8:30 PM, with a complete prohibition during live sports broadcasts in that timeframe; however, a query regarding the rationale for these specific time slots was noted for follow-up.
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman shared his personal struggle with problem gambling, revealing that he lost “tens of thousands of dollars a month.” Despite earning $400,000 while playing for the Canberra Raiders, he recounted challenges in affording basic necessities due to his gambling habits, which he described as being exacerbated by a lack of care from gambling companies. He recounted experiences of being flown interstate for race days where he was offered alcohol and drugs.
Although Bateman did not disclose during the inquiry that he had previously worked in the gambling sector, he later confirmed to ABC that he had been employed by Southern Cross Bet for six months following his departure from the NRL, a position he left to seek rehabilitation for his gambling addiction.
Reverend Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, also testified that TAB and Sportsbet had financed travel and other luxuries for a high-spending gambler who is now incarcerated on charges related to the theft of approximately $12.3 million. The gambling companies have refuted allegations of providing customers with illegal drugs and sex services to promote ongoing gambling and urged critics to present substantiated evidence to the authorities.
In light of the sensational testimonies presented over the two-day inquiry, the Coalition has accused the government of neglecting the gambling incentives that inflict “immeasurable harm on some Australians.” The Greens and crossbench members have also advocated for amendments aimed at better safeguarding children and vulnerable groups, and some members within Labor are calling for a more robust strategy.
Meanwhile, ABC’s Clare Armstrong reported that Labor is unlikely to consider significant modifications to its proposed gambling advertisement restrictions, despite the bill facing challenges in Parliament and discussions suggesting the potential shelving of the crackdown altogether rather than making substantial changes.
In a separate matter, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was set to present a new immigration policy at the National Press Club today, but he canceled the appearance due to some elements remaining unresolved prior to the announcement. Reports indicate that the anticipated measures may include tighter controls on asylum seekers’ work and appeal rights, a prohibition on visitors applying for family visas while in Australia, and a decrease in the number of backpackers permitted to extend their visa durations beyond one year.
The government’s political opponents seized on Burke’s cancellation, with Pauline Hanson alleging that he is “contending with his own cabinet, unions, and the Greens,” while the Coalition accused Labor of being tardy in addressing migration reductions.
Labor is acutely aware of the significant impact that One Nation’s immigration policies have had on its political standing, as noted by David Speers in his recent column. However, the government is also cognizant of the political sensitivities and potential backlash that any adjustments to the migration framework may provoke.
