27 January 2012
Peter Garrett AM
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth
On 21 January 2012, the Federal Government announced its plan to tackle problem gambling. The Government will:
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Undertake a large scale trial of mandatory pre-commitment. An offer has made to ACT clubs to participate in a 12-month trial of the technology, beginning in February 2013. The Productivity Commission recommended a trial in its 2010 report.
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Give smaller pubs and clubs more time to get ready for pre-commitment. Small venues, with 11-20 poker machines, will have an extra four years to implement these changes. Very small venues, with 10 poker machines or less, will be able to implement these changes as they replace their poker machines over their normal replacement cycle.
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Make it compulsory for new gaming machines to be fitted with pre-commitment technology so that the technology will be rolling out while the trial is underway.
The Government will introduce legislation into the coming session of parliament and it will include:
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A $250 daily withdrawal limit from ATMs in gaming venues (excluding casinos) by 1 February 2013.
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Electronic warnings and cost of play displays on poker machines by 2016.
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Additional counselling support with 50 new financial counsellors to work with problem gamblers, and expanding the reach of Gambling Help Online.
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Strengthening self-exclusion arrangements.
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Improving training for staff in pokies venues.
Further, the Government recognises that gambling online and sports betting are a growing concern and will:
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Ban the promotion of live odds during sports coverage.
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Extend pre-commitment to online betting services.
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Crack down on online sports betting companies offering credit and introduce stricter limits on betting inducements.
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Increase the powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to enforce these new rules.
We recognise that problem gambling ruins lives and tears families apart. In Kingsford Smith, I am aware of its effects and I welcome the positive steps to help problem gamblers.