‘Muzzling’ advocates: the Albanese government’s reliance on NDAs

<p>In more than 30 years of lobbying for gambling reforms, Tim Costello says no government has tried to silence him through the use of a legally binding non-disclosure agreement.</p><p>That’s until the Albanese government asked him to sign an NDA as part of lobbying the government on new gambling advertising laws.</p><p>The chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform says he believes its purpose was to “muzzle” the group.</p><p>It’s part of a growing government trend to use non-disclosure agreements as a condition of consultation on reforms, even threatening advocates and social welfare groups with imprisonment if orders are breached. </p><p>Today, chief political correspondent for <em>The Saturday Paper </em>Karen Barlow, on the impact these NDAs have on meaningful consultation and how the government justifies its turn towards secrecy.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Socials: </strong>Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/7ampodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a></p><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Chief political correspondent for <em>The Saturday Paper</em>, Karen Barlow.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>