Community Scrutiny Forum

What is the Community Scrutiny Forum?

The NT Parliament has a scrutiny committee, where proposed laws can be referred for further investigation and community consultation before the law is debated and voted on. There are many laws that the CLP Government has refused to send to the scrutiny committee, but we believe that when important laws that affect people's rights are being debated, everyone should have the opportunity to have their voice heard.

We have established this community scrutiny forum to make sure that when the Government says they don't want to listen, we can make sure your voices and views are on the record.  

Community Scrutiny Forum Inquiry - Gambling Harm Prevention Bill 

The Community Scrutiny Forum Inquiry into the Gambling Harm Prevention Bill 2026 is now open. I introduced the Gambling Harm Prevention Bill to parliament on October 14, following sustained public concern about the harm caused by online gambling companies Australia wide. The NT has a responsibility to act because most online gambling companies – including major players like Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and Bet365 – are registered in the NT because of our low taxes and weak regulation.

If my Gambling Harm Prevention Bill passes it will make 5 major changes to NT gambling laws:

• Duty to prevent wagering harm: Makes harm prevention a clear purpose of the law and requires wagering licensees to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, including action plans, reporting and mandatory service suspension in specified circumstances. Gives harmed customers a right to civil legal action, with the burden on licensees to prove they met their duty.
• Stronger conflict-of-interest rules: Requires Commission members to disclose conflicts, recuse themselves and comply with a public register; bans gifts and benefits from licensees; strengthens appointment eligibility and cooling-off rules; and prohibits members from holding accounts with any licensed Australian wagering provider.
• Ban on harmful inducements: Prohibits sign-up bonuses, free bets, deposit matches, loyalty schemes and other inducements that encourage people to start or continue wagering. Bans commissions linked to customer losses.
• Greater protections for young people: Caps monthly deposits at $500 for customers aged 18–21 and $1,000 for those aged 22–24. Restricts wagering advertising directed at children, depicting children wagering or likely to reach children.
• Stronger enforcement and accountability: Prevents delegation of licensing decisions, extends complaint time limits, increases maximum financial penalties for licensees and creates a new ground for review where a Commission member fails to disclose a conflict of interest.
  
  

I asked the government to agree to refer the Bill to the NT Parliament’s Legislative Scrutiny Committee for inquiry because I believe that process is critical to confidence in the laws we pass, and our democracy, but the CLP government refused the referral. That’s why I will host an inquiry into the Bill through this Community Scrutiny Forum, which I established in response to the CLP’s refusal to refer other important bills to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee.

Anyone can make a submission – and all submissions are encouraged. If you have lived experience of gambling harm, expertise in gambling harm prevention, a concern or question about how the Bill would operate, or any other information or comment you think would be important to consider, I strongly encourage you to make a submission.

Past Community Scrutiny Forums

See the Community Scrutiny Forum Report on the Anti-discrimination Amendments Bill
See the Community Scrutiny Forum Report on the Integrity and Ethics Commission