Last-ditch push for Gambling Bill changes
Gag clauses on contracts with some non-government organisations could be removed in a range of amendments on the table to push through a Gambling Reform Bill tied to the Adelaide Casino redevelopment.
Attorney-General John Rau said the Government had been meeting with the Liberals and cross-benchers to seek support for its gaming reform package, which must be passed before parliament’s mid-winter break on Thursday.
“In delaying this legislation, the Liberals are also casting doubt upon the $300 million casino expansion that will support hundreds of construction and hospitality jobs,” Rau said in a statement.
“This project needs certainty and the successful (unamended) passing of the legislation this week will provide that certainty.”
Independent MLC John Darley, the Greens and Family First are proposing a varied range of amendments mainly designed to strengthen the aspects of the Bill designed to deal with problem gambling.
It appears unlikely the Government’s Bill will be passed without acceptance of at least some of these amendments, but it remains unclear what it will accept.
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The Opposition has proposed splitting the Bill to allow the casino redevelopment to go through, but it wants greater consultation with sporting clubs and hotels on the anti-gambling measures.
Darley and the Greens are lobbying to reduce the maximum bet limit on pokies to $1, from $5 in the Government’s Bill and $10 proposed by the Opposition.
Greens MLC Tammy Franks will move an amendment to remove gag clauses in contracts with non-government organisations (NGOs). Franks said that some NGOs who deal with problem gambling do not take government funding as they want to continue to be able to advocate publically for their clients.
The Greens also wants to see the $500,000 live music fund increased to $850,000 in line with CPI. The fund was established when pokies were introduced to counter their effect on the industry.
“The Government is considering these amendments and I think they believe their support is conditional on ours,” Franks said.
“But we’ll wait and see whether this becomes a Bill which is truly addressing problem gambling, and if it doesn’t, the government will not have our support.”
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Franks said she did not believe the Government should have tied gambling reform to the casino redevelopment and she would not rule out supporting the Opposition’s move to split the Bill.
Family First was in discussions this morning on its own range of amendments. MLC Rob Brokenshire said the party was concerned about the “super venues”.
Under the Bill, hotels and clubs will need to choose between being a “major” venue, with a 60-machine limit and tighter regulations, or “minor” venue with a 20-machine limit.
“We won’t support the Bill the way the government wants it, as they are trying to rush it through to the benefit of the casino and at the expense of problem gamblers and setting up super venues,” Brokenshire said.
“At this point in time, rather than have the Bill go through, we’d be more inclined to look at the Liberal Party amendments, but there needs to be more money made available for rehabilitation and prevention of problem gambling.”
Opposition MLC Rob Lucas said the Opposition would ensure all amendments relating to the casino redevelopment went through.
But Lucas said the Bill should be split so there could be further consultation with the clubs and hotels industry about the effect the reforms would have on their industries.
“If the amendments are not supported and the whole Bill goes through, the casino will be happy and the clubs will be furious because they believe it will kill them.”
South Australian Council of Social Services executive director Ross Womersely said he did not hold out much hope for better provisions for problem gamers in the Bill.
The Bill is designed to encourage the sale of pokie licences to decrease the overall number in the system, but Womersley said there remained concerns that the number could increase.
“The Liberals offered the government a pathway which effectively means they can get the casino stuff in place, and we still have long-standing concerns about essentially the way the legislation is structured.
“There is every possibility we will end up with more machines.”
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