An attempt by the federal government of Australia to overrule the nation's six states and one territory on the issue of Internet gambling apparently has failed after a revolt by the states against Prime Minister John Howard. Howard said last week the federal government would go ahead with its push for a one-year moratorium on Internet betting despite the fact that five state and territorial officials opposed that move, with only New South Wales supporting it and Western Australia offering only qualified backing.
The debate grew heated, with Queensland treasurer David Hamill leading the revolt, calling the Howard government "pig ignorant" in its belief that access could be blocked to Internet gambling sites worldwide. "It's already here," Hamill said, calling the government's proposal "an absolutely ludicrous proposition."
The fate of the Howard plan was sealed when Deputy Leader Natasha Stott Despoja said her Democrat party was not likely to support any mandatory limitation of the spread of Internet gambling sites. The Democrats earlier had said they would support an Internet ban if it had the backing of the states and territories, which it obviously does not.
With the Labor Party and Democrats now blocking the move, and with the capital's leading newspaper, The Canberra Times, calling it "well intentioned but hopelessly impractical", it would seem the moratorium is mortally wounded. The Times editorialized, "The Federal Government should recognize the reality of the Internet. It means people in their homes in Australia can gamble down the phone lines using credit-card facilities at the speed of light... Most Australians would prefer to use an Australian-based site, preferably one that has been licensed. But in the absence of Australian sites, people will use overseas sites."
The analogy to the situation in the U.S. is so strong that the editorial could run in the Washington Post verbatim.