Reports that the Victorian Government has watered down its pokies mandatory pre-commitment card trial shows why the Tasmanian Government needs to lead the way nationally on gambling reforms.
Days after it was announced, the Victorian Government has changed the rules of its pokies pre-commitment card trial. The trial initially included mandatory loss limits set by the government, but was watered down to allow players to volunteer their own limits.
The Tasmanian Government backed away from their promise to Tasmanians to introduce mandatory pre-commitment cards for poker machines last year, in favour of a national approach. It was a sickening betrayal of vulnerable Tasmanians.
Victoria’s backdown from a mandatory pre-commitment card trial shows that if the Tasmanian Government wants there to be a national approach to reducing pokies harm, they must step up and lead it. Premier Rockliff’s deal with the pokies lobby to drop the promised introduction of card-based play and follow other states means Tasmanians will continue to be harmed as those states back away from harm-minimisation reforms if action isn’t taken.
The Liberal Government can’t keep waiting for their federal colleagues to take the action while Tasmanians desperately need it now. Millions are lost every month to poker machines in this state. Record losses cause devastating harm to Tasmanians and their families, from financial stress to health impacts.
Will the Liberals take the action needed and lead a national approach to pokies harm minimisation with mandatory pre-commitment cards? Or was their talk of national progress for Tasmanians struggling with gambling addiction all just words?
