In a move that has sent shockwaves through Tasmanian politics, the government has postponed the implementation of its pioneering cashless pokies card, citing the need to align with other states for a cohesive pre-commitment strategy. This decision has ignited a political firestorm, leading to a no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff by the Greens. The motion comes in response to accusations that the Premier misled Tasmanians about the initiative’s prospects, highlighting deep divisions over the gambling reform agenda.

A heated debate over gambling reform:

Premier Rockliff defended his position in a heated parliamentary session, stating,“Be it on your heads,” as he warned of the dire political consequences of the motion’s success.
The legislative debate intensified as Premier Rockliff warned of a potential government dissolution if the no-confidence motion succeeded, a drastic measure he framed as a significant burden for his detractors. The minority Liberal government, dependent on opposition or crossbench support to remain in power, faced a tumultuous afternoon of debates. The proposed mandatory pre-commitment card, initially promised in 2022, aimed to set daily and annual loss limits for gamblers based on a directive from the state’s gaming and liquor regulator.

Slated for activation by the end of this year, the card’s launch was deferred to 2025, with further delays now pushing the timeline indefinitely. As Tasmanian Times reports, A pivotal report from MaxGaming outlined unforeseen cost escalations and operational complexities, including the development of a centralized banking system, factors that significantly influenced the government’s decision to pause the project.

Premier Rockliff explained the rationale behind the decision during question time, saying, “I’ll be writing to other premiers around our reform process, and given we’re a small state, a practical way forward is to work with other states on a pre-commitment solution.”

In the wake of the legislative impasse, Premier Rockliff advocated for a collaborative approach with other states to devise a viable pre-commitment solution. Despite the setback, the government is actively exploring alternative measures to mitigate gambling harm. These include bolstering support services for Tasmanians grappling with gambling addiction and implementing broader community-based interventions.

Political backlash and advocacy for policy change:

The deferral has provoked stern rebukes from various quarters, including the Greens and former Treasurer Michael Ferguson, who expressed profound disappointment over the government’s backtrack yet remained hopeful due to reassurances that the deferral was temporary, not a cancellation. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff condemned the decision as a capitulation to the gambling lobby, critiquing the government for prioritizing industry profits over public welfare. Woodruff expressed her frustration, stating, “You promised to be a premier with heart, so how are you going to sleep at night knowing that what you are choosing to do will affect vulnerable people?”

The Labor opposition, while engaging in the debate, sought to amend the no-confidence motion to exclude references to the pokies reform, indicating discomfort with the card system’s scope. Labor leader Dean Winter articulated the party’s broader concerns with the government’s performance, suggesting that the issue of pokies reform was just one aspect of a larger governmental failure. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), he said: “We don’t have confidence in this government; we never have. The issue the Greens bring up today is an issue that they’re really passionate about, it’s not an issue that I would bring to the front when I talk about this government. It’s about the TT-Line, the Spirits debacle it’s about the state of the budget, it’s about all the issues that they are failing Tasmanians on.”
Looking forward, the Tasmanian government remains committed to revisiting the card system’s implementation while assessing other harm-minimization technologies like facial recognition. These efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to refine the approach to problem gambling, aiming to strike a balance between effective regulation and the socioeconomic impacts on the community.