Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
After weeks of dishonesty, denial and dismissal, we finally have a concrete answer to your pokies policy. Whatever his faults, the Michael Ferguson model for pokies would have been nation leading. It would have saved lives and livelihoods and given kids a better life. It would have benefited the community and been better for the economy. What you have announced today is going to rip all that up into shreds. The Jeremy Rockliff pokies scheme will entrench disadvantage and poverty among vulnerable Tasmanians. It will ruin families and their futures. You might not want to hear it, but it is no exaggeration to say it will cost lives.
Premier, this will be your legacy: a plan for perpetual pokies harm, a plan for profits over people. You have let the pokies lobby win again. It is shameful. You promised to be a premier with heart, so how are you going sleep at night knowing that what you are choosing to do will affect vulnerable people? Is it that you are no longer going to make this system universal to all venues? Is that what is going on? Tell Tasmanians. It is shameful.
The SPEAKER – The time for asking the question has expired.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank Dr Woodruff for her question, but do not agree with the way she presented the question at all. I have always been in the corner of vulnerable Tasmanians, and that is very clear. We remain committed and aligned with our election commitment when it comes to a precommitment card as soon as practicable. In that commitment, we also mentioned facial recognition technology –
Dr Woodruff – Useless.
Mr ROCKLIFF – the ARGS and third-party exclusion and remain committed to reform. It is complex reform, as I have said.
Dr Woodruff – Pathetic reform that will do nothing.
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, the rules I reminded people of apply to you as well.
Mr ROCKLIFF – It is complex reform and much-needed reform when it comes to broader harm minimisation. We have also announced more support for wraparound services for people facing gambling addiction today. There is not one solution here. There are many solutions to supporting people with gambling addiction, including the increasing technology of facial recognition and third-party exclusion. Part of that is a pre‑commitment card, as has been put on the table.
We believe the most practical way forward is to work with other states on this matter. We will be writing to other premiers about our reform process. Given that we are a small state, a practical way forward is to work with other states on a pre‑commitment solution, as you put it.
However, there are many other ways we can support vulnerable Tasmanians with gambling addiction, and we will do it. We can start rolling out other areas of harm minimisation and work with the community sector on that. Mr Jaensch will be leading that work with the community ‑
Dr Woodruff – You have abandoned your commitment.
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Our statement today –
Dr Woodruff – You promised.
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Our statement today aligns with what we said on 16 February this year.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier said, ‘What we have announced today’. Before you made this announcement, did you speak to the Alliance for Gambling Reform, the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) and all the charities and groups that have been campaigning for decades on this? Did you speak to all the people to whom you promised to bring in mandatory pre‑commitment before you made this announcement?
The SPEAKER – The question is in order as it follows on from information the Premier gave in his answer.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I have spoken to a range of views regarding these matters. I listen to all those views, read the views when I have correspondence coming my way. I have to get the balance right. As Premier, I listen to all views and get the balance right between harm minimisation ‑
Dr Woodruff – Answer the question. Did you have an honest ‑
The SPEAKER – Leader of the Greens, you are warned. I will also warn people who comment on that as well.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Harm minimisation, supporting vulnerable Tasmanians with gambling addiction and other wraparound services that we can provide, other measures of harm minimisation, including facial recognition technology and third-party exclusion. It is also providing Tasmanians with the freedom of choice. This is complex. It is important to get the balance right. I believe what we have announced today ‑
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for addressing the question has expired.
