House of Representatives

Interactive Gambling Amendment (National Self-exclusion Register) Bill 2019

Explanatory Memorandum

(Circulated by the authority of the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston)

OUTLINE

Schedule 1 - National Self-exclusion Register

This Bill amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to establish a National Self-exclusion Register (Register). The Register will allow individuals to exclude themselves from being provided interactive wagering services by all licensed interactive wagering service providers in Australia, and limit the amount of direct marketing to the individual. In particular, this will assist individuals who are at risk of, or already experiencing, significant gambling-related harm from online wagering.

The Register will reflect the principles set out in the National Policy Statement for the National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering, as agreed by all Australian governments.

The Bill will expressly provide that interactive wagering service providers licensed in Australia must not provide interactive wagering services or directly market such services to individuals who are registered in the Register.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will enter into an arrangement with a body corporate to keep and maintain the Register, and ACMA will be responsible for regulatory compliance and enforcement of the Register scheme, and oversight of the body corporate.

This Bill also provides for a levy for cost recovery by ACMA for the costs of the Register and regulatory oversight in accordance with the National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2019.

Regulatory Impact statement

A Council of Australia Governments (COAG) Decision Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared to support the development of quality regulation for the National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering in Australia. The Register formed part of the COAG RIS.

The Decision RIS can be found through this link: https://ris.pmc.gov.au/2018/11/30/national-consumer-protection-framework-online-wagering-australia

The OBPR ID is 20531.

Financial impact statement

MEASURE FINANCIAL IMPACT OVER THE FORWARD ESTIMATES
Schedule 1 - National Self-exclusion Register The 2018-19 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook outlined $5.7 million over four years from 2018-19 (and $1.3 million per year ongoing) for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to administer the National Self-Exclusion Register.

Other funding associated with this Schedule is not for publication, as the procurement process to engage a body corporate is yet to be undertaken.

STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

The statement of compatibility with human rights appears at the end of this explanatory memorandum.


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