Independent MP Helen Haines brings some sense back to proceedings and asks:

Prime Minister, 16 Days of Activism is a powerful and unified campaign to eliminate gender-based violence. Family violence is three times more likely to occur in families where there is problem gambling. In 2024, the Government’s rapid review of evidence-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence backed up the Murphy Report, with a recommendation to restrict gambling advertising leading to a total ban. Prime Minister, when will the government act and ban gambling advertising?

Anthony Albanese

I thank the member for Indi for her question and for the way that she engages constructively with the government in representing her electorate and her political viewpoint.

I do want to take the opportunity – because the question provides it for me – to mark what is Day 2 into that 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence. Whilst this is a campaign for 16 days, we know that – I hope everyone in this House can agree, we need to campaign on this for 365 days a year. Because every death or every act of violence against a woman is one too many. As leaders in this place, we must renew our unwavering commitment to ending violence. Because any death of a woman is unacceptable and, as Australians, we mourn every one of the lives that have been lost this year. We know that, for every life that we lose, there are many more women and children whose lives are marred by violence, abuse or assault every day. And we must look to where we’re falling short, and find new ways of doing better. Yesterday, Minister Plibersek announced an almost 40% funding boost for 1800RESPECT so that, when people reach out for help, it’s there to help them. We have a $4 billion national plan to end violence against women and children, agreed with the states and territories, with the special meeting of the National Cabinet that I convened.

That’s why we boosted and secured funding for front-line services and delivered more financial and housing support for women and children escaping domestic violence. Because women shouldn’t have to choose between poverty and violence. Too often, when women remain in violent relationships and are asked, “Why didn’t you leave?” it’s because they didn’t have anywhere to go. That’s why we created a special stream under the Housing Australia Future Fund as well.

(Haines interjects to ask about the actual question – the link between gambling stress and domestic violence)

Albanese still does not answer the question:

I am responding, very directly, to the question. There is no question, as well, that the cause of violence can never be excused but, in many cases, that is one of the issues – along with alcohol abuse, along with so many issues that cause violence for people to put up their hand and say, “That is why.” The truth is, it can never be excused. That’s the truth. And the truth is that all of us – particularly men – have a particular responsibility.

Because we must all know – we must all know people, when you look at the statistics, who are our friends, or our neighbours, who the gauge in this sort of activity. I’ll continue to engage constructively. One of the reasons why we are doing measures, just to name one of the measures that we’re putting in place, that we have put in place to deal with problem gambling that’s related to people being in a cycle where they feel like they can’t get out is BetStop, the National Self-exclusion Register. That has seen 51,000 total registrations, of whom 38% of people – people who feel like they can’t possibly control it – have chosen a lifetime ban. That’s one of the reasons why we did that. That’s part of the motivation. But I’ll continually work constructively with the member for Indi on all of these issues. I thank her for the question.