Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Stunning'.
Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of supporters and crossbenchers for informing a previous gaming addict to convince wagering business about reforms, not her.
Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies dependency that practically resulted in her taking her own life.
Ms Seselja said Ms Wells told her throughout a meeting in August 2025 it was not the minister who required convincing about betting reforms but the betting business, tv networks and sporting codes that created earnings from betting.
"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja informed AAP.
"To be asked if I had attempted to have conferences with them, as a lived experience supporter, was horrific.
"To have that level of disconnect to the of betting damage dealt with by millions of Australians, to recommend that people with lived experience go fulfill 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, substantiated the exchange.
Ms Wells' workplace did not reject the comment was made, saying the minister welcomed the chance to meet the two supporters to listen to their experience with betting damage.
A spokesperson indicated Labor government steps including the introduction of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a restriction on charge card for online gaming and changes to alerting taglines after advertisements.
"The Australian federal government takes seriously our obligation to safeguard Australians, particularly young and susceptible people, from the damages of online gaming," the spokesperson said.
Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's remarks a betrayal of Australians experiencing betting harm, stating they were "shocking but regrettably not surprising".
"Being informed to lobby the betting industry yourself, after a years of determined advocacy and almost losing your life to dependency, is a profound failure of management," she stated.
Ms Seselja stated personnel from the communication minister's workplace told her to keep fighting for reforms during a subsequent conference in March.
"I in fact broke down and lost it at the staffer, because I stated to her, if you're not going to do your job, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja said.
"People are dying and no one is stopping the carnage."
Independent senator David Pocock described Ms Seselja's recount as deeply uncomfortable, while independent MP Monique Ryan assaulted the government for stopping working to take obligation for the issue or stand up to beneficial interests.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief supporter Tim Costello branded the remarks and inaction on the issue "a total failure of government", adding he was gobsmacked the federal government had not responded to a betting damage report launched practically 1000 days ago.
The landmark report into betting damage handed down in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy suggested a phase-out of marketing, suppressing temptations and an overarching national harm-reduction structure.