Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Shocking'.

Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of supporters and crossbenchers for informing a previous gambling addict to persuade wagering companies about reforms, not her.


Kate Seselja overcame a pokies addiction that practically caused her taking her own life.


Ms Seselja said Ms Wells told her throughout a conference in August 2025 it was not the minister who required convincing about gambling reforms however the wagering companies, tv networks and sporting codes that created income from gaming.


"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja informed AAP.


"To be asked if I had actually attempted to have meetings with them, as a lived experience advocate, was dreadful.


"To have that level of disconnect to the truth of gambling harm faced by millions of Australians, to recommend that individuals with lived experience go meet these predators, made me lose belief in the political system."


Fellow supporter Anna Bardsley from the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who likewise participated in the conference, proved the exchange.


Ms Wells' workplace did not deny the remark was made, stating the minister invited the chance to consult with the two supporters to listen to their experience with betting damage.


A representative indicated Labor federal government steps including the intro of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a restriction on credit cards for online gaming and modifications to alerting taglines after advertisements.


"The Australian federal government takes seriously our to secure Australians, particularly young and susceptible individuals, from the harms of online betting," the representative stated.


Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's remarks a betrayal of Australians experiencing betting damage, saying they were "shocking however regrettably not surprising".


"Being informed to lobby the gambling market yourself, after a decade of steadfast advocacy and almost losing your life to addiction, is an extensive failure of leadership," she stated.


Ms Seselja stated staff from the communication minister's office informed her to keep battling for reforms throughout a subsequent conference in March.


"I in fact broke down and lost it at the staffer, because I stated to her, if you're not going to do your task, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja said.


"People are passing away and no one is stopping the carnage."


Independent senator David Pocock explained Ms Seselja's recount as deeply unpleasant, while independent MP Monique Ryan assaulted the federal government for failing to take obligation for the concern or stand up to beneficial interests.


Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello branded the comments and inactiveness on the problem "a complete failure of federal government", adding he was gobsmacked the federal government had not reacted to a gambling damage report launched nearly 1000 days back.


The landmark report into betting harm bied far in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy advised a phase-out of marketing, suppressing temptations and an overarching national harm-reduction framework.