Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 16 October 2024

Liberals Walk Away From Critical Pokies Reform

Extensive questioning from the Greens in Parliament today has revealed Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his government are walking away from their promise for a comprehensive mandatory precommitment card for poker machines.

The Greens understand that during the election period earlier this year the Premier told the Tasmanian Hospitality Association he would make sure his government’s promised reforms did not go ahead.

We repeatedly asked Jeremy Rockliff in Parliament about what he told the THA, and he did not deny this statement. He also refused to endorse what has been, until now, his own government’s position.

If the Liberals still supported a mandatory pre-commitment card that follows all the recommendations made by the Liquor and Gaming Commission – including default loss limits, a single card for all venues, and one card only per person – the Premier would simply have said so. Instead, he dodged, weaved, and obfuscated.

Rather than answering basic questions about his relationship with the pokies lobby and about his policy plans, the Premier spoke at length about his concerns for the “economic impact and the effect on jobs” he says will result from reform. He also said outright that the government “are not going to ignore industry concerns.”

Over decades we’ve seen the pokies industry bully both Liberal and Labor politicians into doing their bidding. That’s what we’re seeing again right now.

I am shocked and furious that Jeremy Rockliff is walking away from these critical reforms. This is an appalling decision that will damage the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people.

It’s outrageous the Premier has caved into the demands of the pokies industry, but it’s not too late for him to change his mind. It’s time for him to show some courage and to do the right thing by unequivocally backing in every element of the pokies reform previously promised by this government.

Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHR for Clark, 17 October 2024

Pokies Reform in Peril

Tasmania’s move to introduce nation-leading pokies reform is in peril as the Government shifts the goal posts for the introduction of mandatory player precommitment cards.

While the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (TLGC) works to collect public submissions to guide introduction of the policy – taken to the last election by the Government – it’s been revealed the Government is working behind closed doors with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association to create an excuse to junk the policy.

Late yesterday the Government announced it had engaged Deloitte to weigh imagined jobs created by pokies against the Tasmanians lives destroyed by pokies.

I call on the Premier to be honest about the terms of engagement with Deloitte and, importantly, explain whether the TLGC’s public consultation is a waste of time if he plans to use Deloitte’s advice to bury the card.

Most importantly, I am calling on the Premier to recommit to fully deliver reforms as set out in the letter sent to Premier yesterday (attached) from myself, Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff and independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb, especially:

  • A universal and mandatory pre-commitment card
  • default loss limits on poker machines ($100 per day, $500 per month, with a maximum of $5000 per annum)
  • a single system across all venues.