Lack of urgency over pokies reform shames this NSW government

If anything illustrates the increasing level of mediocrity infecting the NSW Labor government, it is the dithering on gaming reform. The fact that there are more poker machines today in NSW than before Chris Minns was elected nearly two years ago is an indictment on this government.

Its political cowardice on gaming reform is an affront to public trust and a missed opportunity. During my years in the “bear pit”, I have to come see the transformational opportunity that is presented when there is a hint of bipartisanship on an issue. Not everything needs to unanimously agreed, but having a shared view of the problem is a strong start for comprehensive form.

There are more poker machines today in NSW than before Chris Minns was elected nearly two years ago.Credit:

It is incredibly disappointing to see the government’s tepid response to the Roadmap for Gaming Reform Report, finally handed over by the independent panel on gaming reform. The lack of urgency from Premier Chris Minns smacks of political cowardice and misplaced priorities.

Minns campaigned on vague promises of gambling reform, yet his lack of action demonstrates a government wishing the issue would go away rather than a focus on the welfare of its citizens. The independent panel, established to oversee reforms including a cashless gaming trial, recently delivered the roadmap to combat gambling harm and curb money laundering. However, Minns’ government appears to be dragging its feet. Despite the overwhelming evidence already available, the government has said it will not be rushing its response.

I was a minister in the previous Perrottet government, and we did the hard work to put forward bold reforms that would tackle head-on problem gambling and money laundering. This included proposals for mandatory cashless gaming and stronger exclusion measures. Yet rather than building on these initiatives, the Minns government has stalled meaningful reform and offers only vague promises of future action. These half-measures fall far short of the decisive policy overhaul needed to protect vulnerable communities and disrupt the pervasive influence of pokies in NSW.

The facts are staggering. NSW houses nearly half of Australia’s poker machines, with billions of dollars flowing through them annually. Our state holds the dubious record of being second only to Nevada for having the greatest number of gambling machines of any state in the world. These machines not only devastate lives but are tools for money-laundering by organised crime. The Minns government’s reluctance to deliver any real reform in this area after two years reveals a troubling theme plaguing this administration – and that is decision-making paralysis.

While the government touts its tiny reforms, such as reducing the cash input limit on new gaming machines and banning some gambling-related signage outside venues, these measures barely scratch the surface of the systemic challenges presented by problem gambling.

They contrast starkly with former premier Perrottet’s vision for far-reaching gaming reform, which would have set a national precedent. One practical policy we formulated was a modest-sized diversification grant to help small and medium-sized clubs and venues generate new revenue streams away from pokies. The diversification grant was to support community clubs with investments in things such as live music infrastructure, refurbishing a bowling green, improving outdoor facilitates or installing a stage to encourage live entertainment.

The grant was conditional on the venue confirming a transition plan to cashless gaming or joining the poker machine buyback scheme, demonstrating that gaming reforms are also important in reinvigorating the local neighbourhood club without the scourge of poker machines as a financial crutch.

The independent panel’s roadmap claims to balance harm minimisation with industry considerations, but the government’s muted response signals a lack of urgency and ambition. Communities plagued by gambling addiction cannot afford to wait while the government decides whether it has a spine. The government must stop hiding behind panels and trials and instead work alongside industry at pace to make bold and comprehensive reforms.

Anything less is an abdication of responsibility, leaving vulnerable families to bear the brunt of the government’s inaction. The time for empty promises has passed. The premier must deliver on the trust placed in him by voters – or be remembered as the leader who squandered a critical chance to reform one of NSW’s most damaging addictions.

James Griffin MP is the Liberal Member for Manly.

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