Gambling ad ban delays prompt fury in parliament and contradictions among ministers

The government's decision to shelve plans to rein in gambling advertising has prompted fury in parliament and confusion among ministers, who have offered contradictory reasons for the delays. Competition Minister Andrew Leigh, a friend of Ms Murphy's who supported a total ban, told ABC Radio Canberra the government was ready to bring advertising restrictions on "immediately", and only had not done so because it did not have the numbers to pass it. Coalition, Greens on board with reform to gambling advertising The Coalition has not declared a position on tougher gambling advertising laws, but the opposition did advocate last year to ban gambling ads during live sport and has said it looks forward to seeing the government's proposal. Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said yesterday the government's continued delays revealed the prime minister was "scared" of the major sporting codes and media companies that might resist a ban. "Back in June last year, 18 months ago, the Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, stood up in his budget reply speech and said a Coalition government would ban gambling advertising from one hour before live sport to one hour after.