How is it that Australians can call so strongly for action on gambling advertising and the major parties fail so comprehensively to listen?
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The deal the prime minister has cut with the Coalition on gambling will be a huge disappointment to people across Australia.
This legislation was about more than just gambling reform. It was a test of whether our parliament listens to the people over vested interests, and the clear answer to that is no. It also raises serious questions about our major party system.
“I am ending my life because I am so pathologically addicted to gambling and cannot get myself to stop. I can’t even get myself to stop to save my own life nor to save my loved ones from the pain of me committing suicide. I am just so disgusted and revolted with myself and want to end my life as soon as possible before my addiction ruins more people around me. I am convinced that the world will, in the long run, be better off with one less person like me. I wish I never placed that first bet. But here I am. I cannot change anything in the past, and so this is where my life will end.”