NAILED IT: LUKE BATEMAN’S TESTIMONY ON GAMBLING HARM
The issue: Gambling reform
This example comes from: Former rugby league player turned BookTok influencer Luke Bateman
Strategic context: Luke Bateman recently testified at a Senate inquiry into gambling. Lived experience advocates, researchers and organisations have been tirelessly pushing for stronger gambling reform for years. Bateman describes his experience as a young man being plied with alcohol and drugs by senior leaders who had a duty of responsibility towards him that they were not upholding. It resulted in damage to his own wellbeing and that of his loved ones.
The stories and evidence from this parliamentary hearing show the power of those voices coming together and making it harder for the public and decision-makers to look away. Media analysis showed Luke's testimony was pivotal in new negotiations on stopping betting incentives.
The values it’s priming are: Responsible (BENEVOLENCE)
What we love about it: It’s an example of live experience storytelling that puts the focus NOT on the harms and horrors experienced by people harmed by the gambling industry but on the unacceptable behaviour of the industry itself. Instead of individual choices, the framing is squarely about industry harm and abuse of power, targeting everyday and vulnerable Australians for profit. Thanks to Luke‘s testimony and the media attention it gained, the government is now under significantly more pressure to strengthen its laws around gambling marketing.
Luke’s testimony is also part of a much bigger story. Lived experience advocates, researchers and organisations have been tirelessly pushing for stronger gambling reform for years. The stories and evidence from this parliamentary hearing show the power of those voices coming together and making it harder for the public and decision-makers to look away.
Watch an extract from Luke’s testimony here.
Personal stories like Luke's and others who have experienced gambling harm have been really powerful in this work. Told strategically, stories can help shift attention from what happened to an individual to why it happened, where systems are failing, who has the power to change it, and what needs to happen next.
This is something we explore in our Lived Experience Storytelling training for those who want to reflect on their own stories and how they can support social change. Find out more and book your place here.
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