Bill
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023
passed, as at 2023-12-11. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2023-09-13
- second reading — 2023-09-13
- second reading — 2023-10-17
- other — 2023-10-17
- second reading — 2023-10-18
- second reading — 2023-10-19
- second reading — 2023-10-19
- committee — 2023-10-19
- other — 2023-11-13
- committee — 2023-11-13
- committee — 2023-11-14
- third reading — 2023-11-14
- introduced — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-11-15
- second reading — 2023-12-06
- third reading — 2023-12-06
- passed — 2023-12-06
- royal assent — 2023-12-11
Divisions
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-10-19.152.2) introduced by Banks MP [David Coleman](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/banks/david_coleman) (Liberal), which means they failed. ### What do these amendments do? Mr Coleman [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-10-19.152.2): > *We support this bill and the measures it takes in relation to credit cards, digital wallets and digital currency, but we do have a particular concern relating to the power that the bill gives to the minister to ban methods of payment that are not specified in the legislation. I've moved amendments to remove this power from the minister.* > > *Specifically, clause 15 states in proposed paragraph 15C(4A)(d):* > >> *a method of a kind determined by the Minister by legislative instrument for the purposes of this paragraph* > > *Basically, that says a minister could, in the future, effectively ban any method of payment that they chose. We don't think that's appropriate because it gives a very wide latitude to the minister. Given that the method of payment would be a legal form of currency, it's a substantial thing to stop Australians from having the right to use that currency, and it's something that should properly come before the parliament rather than being via the minister.* ### Amendment text > *(1) Schedule 1, item 15, page 6 (line 24), omit "currency;", substitute "currency.".* > > *(2) Schedule 1, item 15, page 6 (lines 25 and 26), omit paragraph 15C(4A)(d).* — 2023-11-14, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 52, noes 86
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-11-13.143.1) introduced by Wentworth MP [Allegra Spender](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/wentworth/allegra_spender) (Independent), which means they failed. ### What did the amendments do? Ms Spender [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-11-13.143.1): > *The amendments I'm moving today have six objectives, but the overarching purpose is to draw attention to the fact that the bill has real room for improvement. ... I do not object to the changes being made by the bill and will happily support it, because we need to stop credit cards being used for gambling, but the bill could have and should have gone much further and delivered more of the changes the community wants to see from this government on gambling.* For more information, see her [full contribution](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2023-11-13.143.1). — 2023-11-14, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 14, noes 72
- Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 - Second Reading - Political influence of wagering industry — 2023-12-06, Senate: negative, ayes 11, noes 24
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2023-12-06.219.26) introduced by Victorian Senator [Sarah Henderson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/sarah_henderson) (Liberal), which means they failed. ### Amendment text > *(1) Schedule 1, item 15, page 6 (line 24), omit “currency;”, substitute “currency.”.* > > *(2) Schedule 1, item 15, page 6 (lines 25 and 26), omit paragraph 15C(4A)(d).* ### What is paragraph 15C(4A)? According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2324a/24bd021): > *The payment methods specified in proposed subsection 15C(4A) are a credit card, an account, service or facility in which payment is made from a linked credit card (primarily digital wallets), digital currency (or cryptocurrency), or a method determined by the Minister by disallowable legislative instrument. The allowance for Ministerial discretion is to account for any possible new forms of credit developed to circumvent the new restrictions.* — 2023-12-06, Senate: negative, ayes 24, noes 28
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2023-09-13.
The bill would ban credit cards, related credit products and digital currency for online betting services.
It creates criminal offences and civil penalties for breaking the ban and gives the Australian Communications and Media Authority stronger enforcement powers.
The changes are based on a parliamentary inquiry into how credit is used for online gambling.
- Modify the definition of credit and prohibit its use for interactive wagering.
- Establish criminal and civil penalty provisions for the ban.
- Grant the ACMA extra powers to enforce the ban and related existing penalties.
- Make consequential amendments and remove expired provisions.
Providers and users of interactive wagering services in Australia.
Sources
em
billhome
frl act