Michael Ferguson’s tirade against poker machine lobby

The former Deputy Premier is ‘appalled but not surprised’ at the poker machine lobby’s behaviour in opposing reforms he wanted to protect problem gamblers.

Michael Ferguson Liberal member for Bass. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Former Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson has launched a broadside against the poker machine lobby, saying he is “appalled” by their behaviour in opposing reforms he wanted to protect problem gamblers.

Mr Ferguson championed the introduction of a mandatory precommitment card for pokies gamblers with default loss limits of $100 a day, $500 a month and $5000 per year.

The state government promised the scheme in 2022 to limit the losses incurred by problem gamblers, but put it on the backburner last year after heavy lobbying from the industry.

In his contribution in reply to the State of the State address, Mr Ferguson maintained his rage.

“I am continually appalled but not surprised at the behaviour of some in the gambling lobby who have done extremely well out of the reforms that this House delivered and were successfully implemented on 1 July 2023,” he said.

“They are fiercely protecting their extraordinary additional profits and lobbying to hold back reform. Who will disagree with me?”

Michael Ferguson wants precommitment cards to help gamblers.

Mr Ferguson has repeatedly spoken of his commitment to protect problems gamblers from the harms of poker machines.

He said he stood by the precommitment card. The industry prefers CCTV cameras equipped with facial recognition to exclude those who have asked to be kept out of venues for their own good.

“The central point is this — these overdue reforms will put real power back into the hands of players deciding in advance how much money they wanted to be able to lose before they start losing,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This is a power shift from the software that is legally programmed to influence the player to think that they are winning when they are actually losing, and it will not in any way stop people choosing how to spend their own money.

“Again, who could argue with that?

“Of course, I take the opportunity to say that I stand by the statements contained in my letters that were amongst a range of documents released recently. They speak for themselves.”

Federal Group managing director Greg Farrell. Picture: Linda Higginson

Documents released under Right to Information laws have uncovered a terse series of letters between Mr Ferguson and Federal Group managing director Greg Farrell over the reforms early last year, with Mr Ferguson objecting to claims in a “fact sheet” about the issue the company sent to MPs.

“I record my personal disappointment with this recent intervention, with incorrect claims,” he said.

“They are further surprising in the context of the significant additional revenues that your gaming hotels have been enjoying since 1 July 2023 as a result of the first tranche of reform.”

Mr Farrell rejected Mr Ferguson’s assertion.

“This is a disappointing statement and more than a little disingenuous, as you know the

Federal Group as a whole is projected to be around $20 million per year worse off –

according to your own figures — from the changes,” he said.

Contrary to Mr Farrell’s claim, data provided by the government revealed the reforms were followed by a 56 per cent in revenue for venues in 2023/24 alone — although bigger venues did even better and one recorded a $73,000 per month jump in profits.

“The statewide average increase in the retained profits for licensed hotels and clubs is 55.91 per cent,” the government said.

“The percentage increase in the retained profits for approximately the top one-third of licensed hotels and clubs (30 venues) is 61.99 per cent.”

Originally published as Michael Ferguson’s tirade against poker machine lobby