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

Communications Minister Anika Wells is under fire from a host of advocates and crossbenchers for telling a previous gaming addict to encourage betting business about reforms, not her.


Kate Seselja got rid of a pokies dependency that nearly resulted in her taking her own life.


Ms Seselja stated Ms Wells told her during a conference in August 2025 it was not the minister who needed convincing about gambling reforms but the betting companies, tv networks and sporting codes that created revenue from gaming.


"I was flabbergasted," Ms Seselja informed AAP.


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


"To have that level of disconnect to the reality of betting damage dealt with by countless Australians, to suggest that with lived experience go meet 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, proved the exchange.


Ms Wells' office did not deny the remark was made, stating the minister welcomed the chance to meet with the 2 supporters to listen to their experience with gambling harm.


A representative indicated Labor government steps consisting of the introduction of the self-exclusion register BetStop, a restriction on charge card for online gaming and changes to alerting taglines after advertisements.


"The Australian government takes seriously our obligation to secure Australians, particularly young and vulnerable individuals, from the harms of online gaming," the representative stated.


Independent MP Kate Chaney branded the minister's comments a betrayal of Australians experiencing betting damage, saying they were "stunning but unfortunately not surprising".


"Being informed to lobby the betting market yourself, after a decade of determined advocacy and almost losing your life to dependency, is a profound failure of leadership," she stated.


Ms Seselja said personnel from the interaction minister's office told her to keep combating for reforms throughout a subsequent meeting in March.


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


"People are dying and nobody is stopping the carnage."


Independent senator David Pocock described Ms Seselja's recount as deeply uncomfortable, while independent MP Monique Ryan attacked the federal government for stopping working to take obligation for the problem or withstand beneficial interests.


Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello branded the comments and inaction on the concern "a total failure of government", adding he was gobsmacked the federal government had actually not responded to a gambling damage report released nearly 1000 days ago.


The landmark report into gambling harm handed down in June 2023 by late Labor MP Peta Murphy advised a phase-out of marketing, curbing temptations and an overarching national harm-reduction structure.