Minister's Words To Gambling Reform Advocate 'Stunning'.
Anika Wells is under fire from a host of advocates and crossbenchers for informing a former gaming addict to convince betting business about reforms, not her.
Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies dependency that practically led to her taking her own life.
Ms Seselja said Ms Wells told her throughout a meeting in August 2025 it was not the minister who required convincing about betting reforms but the wagering companies, television networks and sporting codes that created revenue from gambling.
"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja told AAP.
"To be asked if I had attempted to have meetings with them, as a lived experience supporter, was horrific.
"To have that level of detach to the reality of gambling harm dealt with by millions of Australians, to suggest that people with lived experience go consult with these predators, made me lose belief in the political system."
Fellow advocate Anna Bardsley from the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), who likewise participated in the meeting, substantiated the exchange.
Ms Wells' office did not reject the comment was made, stating the minister welcomed the opportunity to meet with the two advocates to listen to their experience with betting damage.
A representative indicated Labor federal government steps consisting of the intro of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a restriction on credit cards for online betting and changes to warning taglines after ads.
"The Australian federal government takes seriously our obligation to safeguard Australians, especially young and vulnerable individuals, from the damages of online gaming," the representative said.
Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's comments a betrayal of Australians experiencing gambling damage, saying they were "stunning however unfortunately not surprising".
"Being told to lobby the gaming industry yourself, after a decade of determined advocacy and almost losing your life to dependency, is an extensive failure of leadership," she stated.
Ms Seselja said staff from the communication minister's workplace told her to keep combating for reforms during a subsequent conference in March.
"I actually broke down and lost it at the staffer, due to the fact that I stated to her, if you're not going to do your job, then resource GHLEE to do it," Ms Seselja stated.
"People are passing away and no one is stopping the carnage."
Independent senator David Pocock described Ms Seselja's recount as deeply unpleasant, while independent MP Monique Ryan assaulted the federal government for stopping working to take duty for the issue or withstand beneficial interests.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief supporter Tim Costello branded the remarks and inaction on the problem "a complete failure of government", including he was gobsmacked the federal government had not reacted to a gaming harm report released 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, curbing temptations and an overarching nationwide harm-reduction framework.