Independent Member for Kurrajong Thomas Emerson MLA has welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into his Private Member’s Bill that seeks to ban gifts and donations to political entities from gambling industry entities and associated persons.
The Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Integrity Commission and Statutory Office Holders is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders and members of the public.
The bill has already been supported publicly by the Australia Institute, the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance, and the Public Health Association of Australia.
Mr Emerson said progress on gambling reform has been slow despite strong community support for harm reduction measures, and that getting gambling money out of politics was an important step forward.
“We’ve seen the Federal Government announce a watered-down package of gambling reforms that contradicts expert advice and community expectations, while accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the gambling industry. We can’t allow vested interests to be put ahead of our community’s interests here in the ACT,” Mr Emerson said.
“We know political donations surge when gambling reform is on the agenda. Canberrans want to see proposed gambling reforms considered on their merits, not on the basis of who’s receiving donations from the gambling industry.”
Mr Emerson said the inquiry is an opportunity for community members to make their voices heard.
“This inquiry is an important forum for the Assembly to hear directly from Canberrans who want to get gambling money out of politics,” Mr Emerson said.
“Gambling industry groups and political parties are likely to provide input into this inquiry. I’d encourage all Canberrans who want to see this bill pass, including those with lived experience of gambling harm, to make a submission. It can be as simple as sending a brief email to the Committee sharing your views.”
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BACKGROUND
The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are available here.
Information about how to make a submission is available on the Assembly website here.
Submissions close on 24 August 2026. The Committee will report back to the Assembly by 28 October 2026.