It seems that everyone has an opinion on pokie reform nowadays. From sports clubs to not-for-profit organizations, everyone has something to say about Andrew Wilkie’s pre-commitment initiative. Now, the Liberal government has decided to step forward and denounce the idea. Tony Abbott, the group’s leader, spoke at a rally yesterday, where hundreds of people gathered to protest the implementation of pokie reform.
He announced that the Liberals oppose the idea of the initiative, agreeing with attendees that it would be ineffective while causing more harm than good. He also stated that his group would work to have the law rescinded if pokie reform is passed as legislation. This is a bold statement to make, but Abbott and the Liberals believes that there are better ways of controlling problem gambling in Australia.
This is one of the first times that an entire political group has spoken out against pokie reform. Up until now, we have only heard from clubs and other charitable organizations. It will be interesting to see how this announcement will effect public opinion on the implementation of precommitment technology across Australia.