Australian minister rejects ad ban to support “under-threat” media [Video]

Australian minister Bill Shorten claims a ban on gambling advertising would only undermine free-to-air media in the country, which he says is “under attack” from digital media platforms such as Facebook.

Shorten, who is the minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, intervening is the latest indication the government will not implement a total gambling ad ban as recommended in the 2023 Murphy report.

“I’m not convinced that complete prohibition works,” Shorten said on ABC Australia’s Q+A programme yesterday (12 August).

“We’ve got ourselves in this wicked situation where, now, some of the free-to-air media need gambling ad revenue at any time in order just to stay afloat.

“I don’t want Mark Zuckerberg or Facebook in charge of my news feeds. He’s not even paying the Australian media for what they report,” he told the audience.

Instead of an outright ban on TV and radio advertising, the government is reportedly considering capping gambling ads at two per hour until 10pm and a ban …

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