Coroner & Legal
$1 bet limits: I’m already on board. The Greens Policy
I strongly support, and have long supported, $1 bet limits and $500 jackpot restrictions on poker machines. It was my preferred position going into the 2010 federal election and my starting point in negotiations with Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott after that election.
Along with mandatory pre-commitment, $1 bet limits were recommended in the Productivity Commission’s landmark 2010 report into gambling in Australia.
After the 2010 election I was unable to reach an agreement with Julia Gillard for $1 maximum bets but did secure an agreement for mandatory pre-commitment. The PM subsequently reneged on the deal and I withdrew my support for the Government.
Watered down reforms passed the Parliament in November 2012, including the requirement for poker machines to be made mandatory pre-commitment ready.
Newspaper reports this morning suggest Greens Senator Richard Di Natale choosing to launch the Greens’ poker machine policy in Denison is somehow ‘provocative’. Rather I think it reflects the crucial role the electorate of Denison has played in gambling reform in this Parliament.
Senator Di Natale doesn’t need to launch a $1 bet policy in Denison to get me on board. I have supported $1 bet limits on poker machines for many years and continue to do so.
As recently as last month I argued the case for $1 maximum bets in the final inquiry report of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform, of which I was the Chair.
• Greens call on Rudd to put pokies reform back on agenda
Australian Greens gambling spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, joined Tasmanian Senator, Peter Whish-Wilson, in Hobart today to announce the Greens policy on pokies for the 2013 election and call on Prime Minister Rudd to get behind pokies reform.
“This parliament missed the opportunity to comprehensively deal with the harms from problem gambling but a new government has the opportunity to put pokies back on the political agenda,” said Senator Di Natale.
“Today the Australian Greens commit to pursuing $1 bet limits on pokies during the next parliament because it is the simplest, cheapest and most effective way to reduce the harm from these machines.
“Instead of losing thousands of dollars in an hour, punters betting a maximum of $1 per spin would only lose an average of $120 an hour. It’s about making sure kids aren’t left hungry or homeless because the family’s rent and grocery money was sucked up by a poker machine in a few of hours.
“We also call on the independents to commit to $1 bet limits ahead of mandatory pre-commitment. If the next parliament provides further opportunities for reform we need to work together to ensure that $1 bet limits are adopted.”
Tasmanian Greens Senator, Peter Whish-Wilson said the Tasmanian Greens have demonstrated how much they care about the harms caused by pokies.
“The Tasmanian Greens have been strong advocates for $1 bet limits in both the federal and state parliaments.
“The Greens are the only party that has the courage to stand up to the big end of town and put people’s interests first. If, like the Greens, you also care about protecting our communities from the harms of pokies then stand with us.”
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