A bill introduced by independent MP Dr Monique Ryan with support from Senator David Pocock and other crossbenchers is attempting to shift how Australia classifies gambling harm. The Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 2 March and has progressed to its second reading stage. If passed, it would formally recognise gambling harm as a public health matter.
What the Bill Does
The amendment adds gambling harm and addiction to the legal definition of "public health matters" under the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025. That single change would give the ACDC explicit authority to collect data, publish research, and advise government on gambling harm in the same way it currently handles environmental health, health security, and climate-related health issues.
Ryan described the Bill as establishing a framework for prevention and early intervention rather than treating gambling losses as an individual responsibility issue. Under current law, gambling harm sits between consumer protection (handled by ACMA) and personal health (handled by states and territories on an ad hoc basis). No national health authority has a clear mandate to treat it as a population health challenge.
The Numbers Behind the Push
Ryan cited $70 billion in gambling losses by Australians since the Murphy Report was tabled in June 2023, and 3 million adults experiencing gambling-related harm. Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray and gambling researcher Professor Samantha Thomas of Deakin University both backed the Bill at its introduction.
The proposal follows the Murphy Report's 31 recommendations on gambling reform. The government responded to some of those recommendations on 2 April with the advertising reform package announced by Prime Minister Albanese, which takes effect 1 January 2027. However, Ryan and Pocock argue those reforms do not treat the underlying public health problem, only its most visible symptom.
What This Means for Punters
The Bill would not change any rules for individual punters. It does not ban any products, alter account opening rules, or affect the BetStop self-exclusion register. What it would do is create ongoing government research capacity that will likely inform future reforms. If the ACDC begins publishing regular reports on gambling harm, expect those reports to influence the next round of regulation. The full text of the Bill is available on the Australian Parliament House website.
Separately, any Australian experiencing gambling harm can access free confidential support 24 hours a day by calling 1800 858 858 or registering with BetStop to self-exclude from every licensed online wagering operator in a single step.