Tasmania’s independent gaming regulator warned the state government its new poker machine policies would cause more harm and take the state backwards on gambling protections, documents released under right-to-information laws reveal.
The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (TLGC) wrote to Treasurer Eric Abetz on March 31, saying it had “no evidence” any of the government’s proposed measures “will minimise harm”.
“Indeed, we are concerned that many will not deliver protections from gambling harm, but in fact will have the opposite effect and take Tasmania backwards from where it currently is,” the commission wrote.
The documents show the commission was not consulted before the policies went to cabinet and did not receive the details until they were publicly announced on January 23.
Independent Nelson MLC Meg Webb described the documents as a “bombshell” and a “damning indictment” on the government.
“The only reason you don’t ask the statutory independent entity charged with providing you advice on a critical public policy matter, is because you know you or your industry mates will not like the answer,” Webb said.
She said the commission had raised specific concerns about the reintroduction of ATMs in pokies pubs and clubs, increased spending risks under proposed ticket-in-ticket-out systems, limited benefits of facial recognition technology and a greater risk of money laundering.
Acting Premier Bridget Archer defended the government’s approach as “a significant step forward for gambling harm reduction” and said the policy “sets the right balance”.
“We will of course work with the gaming commission on the implementation of that policy,” Archer said.
Asked about the lack of consultation, she said the policy had been developed “in consultation with stakeholders” and the government would work with the commission on its rollout.
The measures replaced the government’s earlier commitment to a mandatory pre-commitment card for pokies, which a Deloitte Economics report found would reduce gambling harm and boost Tasmania’s gross state product by $230 million.
Greens treasury spokesperson Vica Bayley said Premier Jeremy Rockliff should intervene and return to a card-based system.
“Instead of locking in economic and job creation benefits and protecting vulnerable Tasmanians from predatory poker machines, the Liberals have caved to the influence of the gambling lobby and is now proposing an approach that will make things worse,” he said
“The Liberals’ pokies policy is utterly non-sensical and against the public interest.”
