Public interest before policy purity

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, is calling on the Greens to support the Federal Government’s poker machine reforms and put public interest ahead of policy purity.

Releasing the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform’s Third Report, Mr Wilkie said the committee had heard that the millions of people affected by problem gambling were fed up with delays in reform.

“The Government’s proposed poker machine reforms are far from perfect. But they’re better than nothing and worth pursuing,’’ Mr Wilkie said.

Mr Wilkie reluctantly agreed to support the Government’s watered-down reforms after negotiating significant improvements to the legislation.

But the Prime Minister is refusing to introduce the legislation due to a lack of support from the Coalition and the Greens, with the minority party holding out for $1-maximum bets.

“I support $1 maximum bets and tried to reach an agreement with the Government on this after the 2010 election,’’ Mr Wilkie said.

“However the Government continues to have no interest in this important Productivity Commission recommendation and we run the very real risk of seeing no poker machine reform in this Parliament.

“Frankly, for the Greens to continue to hold out for $1 maximum bets is entirely unhelpful and likely to sound the death knell of poker machine reform for many years to come.

“In the circumstances the Government and Greens need to try and reach an agreement that in future poker machines will be both $1 maximum bet and mandatory pre-commitment capable.

“This would be a significant development and one that would give a future federal government the option of adopting either $1 maximum bets or activating mandatory pre-commitment.

“Significantly, it would also give state and territory governments the option of going it alone.’’

Mr Wilkie said he shared the disappointment of witnesses to The Inquiry into the Prevention and Treatment of Problem Gambling at the Prime Minister breaking her commitment to implement mandatory pre-commitment on poker machines and the lack of progress on the watered-down reforms.

Main points from The Inquiry into the Prevention and Treatment of Problem Gambling:

• More needs to be done in the area of prevention as the current emphasis is on providing counselling services for people already affected by problem gambling.
• The amount of positive advertising messages around gambling overwhelms harm minimisation messages whereas there needs to be a better balance between the two.
• The committee heard how the focus on personal responsibility, conveyed in ‘responsible gambling’ messages, can contribute to feelings of shame and stigma for vulnerable people who develop gambling problems which creates a barrier to seeking help.
• The committee heard about the need for industry to take greater responsibility for the dangers of gambling products.
• Awareness of gambling problems needs to be better integrated across the health profession to ensure better referral pathways.
• Further research is needed on the impact of comorbid conditions on problem gambling and how treatment services can more effectively address this.
• The committee has heard from many problem gamblers who gambled at the same venue for extended periods, sometimes years, and were known to the staff. Not one reported being approached by staff.
• In additional comments from myself, Senators Di Natale, Madigan and Xenophon we propose further investigation of a legislated duty of care for gambling venues. This would make industry more responsive to problematic gambling behaviour.