Opened the debate
Wilkie argued that an urgent free vote was necessary to allow members to use their own judgement on phasing out gambling advertising over three years, as recommended by the Murphy Report. Wilkie cited evidence from the Australia Institute indicating that nearly one million young people aged 12 to 19 gambled in the previous year, attributing this to advertising that normalised gambling and groomed children. Wilkie contended that the current political impasse ignored the wishes of the community and the majority of members who supported a ban. Wilkie emphasised that the government had the financial resources to assist media and sporting bodies in transitioning away from gambling revenue, which he described as harmful to vulnerable communities.