Labor vowed to ban sports gambling ads (18 months ago)

The Albanese government’s attempt to ban ubiquitous sports gambling ads appears to follow a familiar playbook. The first step is to come out forcefully, with language that makes it seem as if decisive action is weeks away.

It was the same playbook the government used against Facebook, when the tech giant refused to renew commercial deals with media companies over content. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland described that decision “a dereliction of its commitment to the sustainability of Australian news media”.