Australia politics live: Greens say Labor and Coalition deal on gambling ad laws a ‘smokescreen’

By Martin Farrer · The Guardian World

Greens spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says opt-out system doesn’t acknowledge ‘how the internet actually works. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has claimed Labor’s proposal to let Australians opt out of all gambling ads online doesn’t account for how the internet works. The government has promised a “one-stop shop” to opt out of the ads online, in its latest gambling reform bill introduced on Monday. It has not explained how an opt-out register could work and government sources have conceded it would be a complex measure. Hanson-Young told the ABC’s 7.30 on Monday the Greens would not support the “smokescreen” bill. She said the government had told her it wouldn’t pursue a stronger alternative measure, a system requiring Australians to opt in to seeing gambling ads, because such a system would effectively ban the ads. On the opt-out proposal, she said: The idea that you can opt out of all corners of the internet - I mean, it just beggars belief that any serious policy brain has put this forward. I don’t know whose idea it was. Maybe it was Angus Taylor’s , maybe it was the prime minister’s, but it’s certainly come from someone who doesn’t know how the internet actually works. But they are being ignored .. I think what’s happened is that Angus Taylor is not up to the job. He is a weak leader. And I think he’s been spooked by Pauline Hanson and One Nation. Continue reading...