Liberal Party backflips on $1 pokie bet limit

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The Tasmanian Greens today condemned the Liberal Party for its backflip on a $1 bet limit on poker machines, following the handing down of a report by the Parliamentary Select Committee examining the issue.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP, who today issued a dissenting report, said that the Labor and Liberal Parties had shown callous disregard for poker machine addicts and put profits ahead of harm minimisation.

“What we have seen is the shameful spectacle of Labor and Liberal teaming up to sink a reform that would have reduced the terrible suffering caused by poker machine addiction,” Mr Booth said.

“They have put the profits of wealthy pokie barons ahead of measures that would have helped to reduce some of the damage caused by gambling addiction.”

“The Greens minority report also makes clear that Tasmanians deserve reform now, rather than rely on a watered down and delayed moves in the Federal arena.” [1]

“The Federal Greens were very clear that although they negotiated a reform package with the Prime Minister, it was only an initial step and their preference remained for a $1 bet limit.”

“The Liberal Party in particular should be ashamed, given their previous moves in support of a $1 bet limit on poker machines.”

“The Liberal Party spent years pretending to care about harm minimisation for poker machine addicts, but just when they had the chance to do something, they sided with their masters, the pokie barons.”

“The Liberal Party supported a $1 maximum bet limit for poker machines in 2009, and in the lead-up to the 2010 election, but just when they had the power to do something about they went to jelly.”

“Liberal MP Brett Whiteley pursued a $1 maximum bet limit in the House of Assembly in November 2009, where his amendment was defeated by the Labor Members. Liberal MP Dr Vanessa Goodwin then introduced the same amendment to the Legislative Council, which also failed.”

“At least Labor has been consistent in their opposition to a bet limit, but the Liberals have shown themselves to be both spineless and heartless by not supporting change when they had the chance.”

Mr Booth also thanked everyone who gave evidence to the committee, particularly those who shared personal stories about lives torn apart by poker machine addiction.

“The Committee heard evidence of families who’d lost loved ones to suicide, of time spent in prison because of crimes committed to feed an addiction and of children forced to go to bed without dinner,” Mr Booth said.

“The Greens deeply appreciate those who had the courage to come forward and to talk about their addiction, in the hope that others won’t have to go through the same ordeal.”

[1] Report by Select Committee on the Gaming Control Bill 2010. Dissenting report by Kim Booth MP on p. 74, here:
http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/House/Reports/Gaming%20Control%20Amendment%20%20Bill%202010%20_$1%20Bet%20Limit_%20%20Final%20Report.pdf

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