Senator Nick Xenophon is well-known for his outspoken stance on gambling reforms in Australia. He has long supported the pokie reform bill, which aimed to curb problem gambling rates by introducing pre-commitment technology into pokie clubs and pubs. Now that the Abbott government has repealed the law that would pass these reforms, Xenophon is back at square one – and he is not happy about it.
According to The Australian, Senator Xenophon is disappointed that the new federal government has decided to scrap the poker machine reforms that were passed last year. They were considered a ‘watered-down’ version of the reform bill that was originally presented to the government, but they represented a positive step forward in the fight against problem gambling.
Now, the bill has been repealed and responsible gambling advocates are concerned that problem gamblers will have no protection. In repealing the bill, the Abbott government has removed the cap on ATM withdrawals. This means that patrons at pokie clubs and other gambling venues will not face limits when they want to withdraw cash.
The trial of pre-commitment technology has also been repealed, so local clubs will not test systems which would allow players to limit the amount of money they plan to spend on pokies. ““If the government thinks this bill will make the issue go away, it won’t,” Xenophon says. Instead, Abbott is leaving the regulation of poker machines up to state governments, which Senator Xenophon calls ‘a joke’.
He believes that it is up to Abbott and the federal government to do something about gambling addiction rather than passing the buck to state politicians. The Abbott government has spoken, and responsible gambling advocates across Australia are at a loss.
There is no word yet on other reform provisions that will be taken to curb problem gambling rates, but we will keep you updated with further developments as they arise.
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