Gaming Minister Chansey Paech criticised over ‘weak’ and ‘indecisive’ position on Alice pokies

The Territory’s Gaming Minister has come under fire for a “weak” and “indecisive” move on new poker machines in an outback town.

A bid to add more pokies to venues in Alice Springs has been delayed, sparking outrage from opponents who have described the decision as “weak”.

Racing, Gaming and Licensing Minister Chansey Paech on Monday said the applications for 60 extra poker machines at four venues was suspended until June 2023.

The bid to bring more of the controversial machines to the town has sparked fears of increased anti-social behaviour in the region.

Gaming machine profit increased in the Top End by 62.5 per cent to $147 million a year, the 2020-21 Licensing NT annual report says.

This is compared to $90 million for the same period.

Iris Capital wants to add 20 machines each to the Mercure and Uncles Tavern in the Diplomat and 10 each the Gap View Hotel and the Todd Tavern.

The business purchased venues in July this year. It also has the poker machine license at Lasseters Hotel Casino in Alice Springs.

The bid to add more machines to the Alice Springs pubs has outraged some members of the community with more than 700 written submissions lodged as part of the No New Pokies in Mparntwe campaign.

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley, also opposes the addition of more poker machines in Alice Springs.

Ms Lambley said Mr Paech’s move was a “non-decision”.

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley has criticised a decision over poker machines in Alice Springs. Picture: Floss Adams.

“It’s a weak, indecisive position the minister’s taken,” Ms Lambley said.

“He should be saying no instead of putting it on pause for nine months.”

Ms Lambley said Mr Paech had “back flipped” on his previous position.

“We cannot afford to have more poker machines,” she said.

“We have the highest rate of crime that we’ve seen in recent history.

“Poverty, child abuse and neglect, violence. Adding more poker machines to the mix will only exacerbate all those social problems.”

Gaming Minister Chansey Paech has imposed a nine-month moratorium on poker machines in Alice Springs. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mr Paech said he had no power to intervene in the application process and criticised Ms Lambley’s “feigned concern” for the community.

“The Territory Labor Government reinstated the cap and has since reduced it twice,” Mr Paech said.

“This is part of our wider reforms to minimise gambling-related harm and it shows that we are walking the walk, not just talking the talk.”

No New Pokies in Mparntwe spokesman Jonathan Pilbrow welcomed the suspension of the applications but called on the government to implement the nine-month moratorium across the entire NT.

“The community concerns clearly remain, and we are still calling on the Director of Gaming Machines to reject these applications once the moratorium is lifted in June 2023,” Mr Pilbrow said.