The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has welcomed the Australian Greens’ continuing interest in poker machine reform.
“I’m pleased to see their policy dovetails with my reforms, which include mandatory pre-commitment on high-intensity machines and the roll out of low-intensity machines with $1 maximum bets that can played outside of mandatory pre-commitment,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“I’m continuing to work with the Federal Government to implement our reforms, which have not changed in any way.
“I also welcome the Australian Greens’ preparedness to ultimately support the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment on high-intensity machines.’’
• Andrew Wilkie on Tasmanian Times :Has Politics Failed Us?: No, but there’s a lack of authenticity, passion and leadership
• TAS GREENS BACK $1 BETTING LIMIT
Similar Measures Currently Before State Parliament
Nick McKim MP
Tasmanian Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the Australian Greens’ push for a nationwide betting limit of $1, adding that Tasmania need not wait for the Federal Parliament to implement this key harm minimisation strategy.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said the Australian Greens’ push for a betting limit of $1 per spin closely matches concurrent action the Greens are taking in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, where their Bill to introduce a $1 Bet Limit on State pokies is currently being examined by a Parliamentary Committee.
“The imposition of a $1 maximum bet for poker machines is one of the simplest and most effective single harm minimisation strategies available, and could be implemented with a minimum of cost to the industry,” Mr McKim said.
“The Australian Greens push for a national approach complements the efforts by the State Greens to have a $1 Bet limit introduced at a state level, and if the Liberals vote in support of our Bill given they had voted before the last election for a $1 Bet Limit, Tasmania won’t need to wait for the Federal Parliament to act.”
“Last year the Tasmanian Greens took action on problem gambling, tabling an amendment to the Gaming Control Act 1993 to introduce a $1 betting limit on all of the state’s poker machines, which was later referred to a committee.”
“Unfortunately the Liberals still haven’t clarified their position on this key harm minimisation measure, nor whether they are prepared to support the Greens’ Bill in the House of Assembly.”
“Tasmanians alone lose roughly $250 million lost to pokies every year, which is why the Greens support both a $1 bet limit on pokies as well as mandatory pre-commitment, as interim measures toward an eventual ban on poker machines.”
Mr McKim also said that the Australian Greens’ proposals for a $500 maximum jackpot and a $20 limit on the amount of cash held by any one machine were also sensible and pragmatic measures that would help to limit the damage caused by poker machines.
“These proposals are in line with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on problem gambling and I’m aware that they also have the support of key welfare groups.”
“There is no doubt that the measures proposed by both the Tasmanian and Australian Greens would go a long way to ending the misery that problem gambling brings to addicts and their families,” Mr McKim said.
