The Tasmanian Government has shelved the introduction of its promised pre-commitment gaming card for poker machines.
The card was originally slated for completion by the end of 2022 and was then pushed back to December 2025, but Premier Jeremy Rockliff insists measures remain a commitment.
In a joint-statement on Tuesday, Treasurer Guy Barnett, Community Services Minister Roger Jaensch and Minister for Hospitality and Small Business Jane Howlett said other “harm minimisation measures” will be progressed instead.
“The Government understands the need to get the balance right between implementing effective harm minimisation measures and regulatory implications and understanding the complexities and costs associated with implementing a mandatory card-based system,” it read.
“The move follows a report provided to the Government by MaxGaming, which revealed a likely significant cost increase and implementation delays and further outlined the complexity of the proposed card-based system, including the need to create a centralised banking system.”
Minister for Community Services Roger Jaensch said facial recognition technology may be included in the broader harm minimisation package.
“We are also investigating how the Tasmanian Gambling Exclusion Scheme can be reformed to support more Tasmanians who need help with their gambling behaviour,” he said.
“We are committed to helping all Tasmanians who have problems with gambling addiction and by developing a suite of harm minimisation measures, we are confident we can target and assist this small number of Tasmanians.”
Minister Howlett said: “Tasmania has the lowest density of [gaming machines] of any state, the lowest spend per capita [on gaming machines] and the lowest prevalence of problem gambling with 0.4% of our adult population having serious issues with gambling.”
“However, we are firmly committed to supporting the Tasmanians that need our help,” she said.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the delay will cost lives and negatively impact the community.
As a result, her party moved a no-confidence motion in the Premier, branding him a “liar”.
“After weeks of dishonesty, denial, and dismissal from the Premier finally we have a concrete answer about his plan for pokies and it’s terrible news for Tasmania,” she said.
“This is a plan for perpetual pokies harm and for profits over people. The Premier has let the pokies lobby win. Again.”
