Media Release: Upper House Votes for Immediate Disclosure of Terms of Reference of Controversial Deloitte Access Pokies Pre-Commitment Card Review
Upper House Votes for Immediate Disclosure of Terms of Reference of Controversial Deloitte Access Pokies Pre-Commitment Card Review
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said Premier Jeremy Rockliff is under pressure to immediately release the terms of reference for the current Deloitte Access Economics review of the promised poker machine mandatory pre-commitment card, following a vote by the Legislative Council.
“The Premier’s poor judgment has resulted in him now finding himself squarely caught between the Parliamentary rock and the vested industry hard place,” Ms Webb said.
“The Upper House passed my motion calling for the immediate release of the terms of reference underpinning the secret Deloitte Access review of the promised pokies mandatory pre-commitment card.
“It’s now up to the Premier to front up and disclose the deal he has done.
“It shouldn’t have come to this. It shouldn’t take a Parliamentary vote for this most basic and straightforward demonstration of accountability and transparency – providing the terms of reference and scope of a publicly funded report which seeks to influence public policy.
“For any other industry, the Government would have announced the review by a media release with the terms of reference attached claiming they were delivering their so-called 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania.
“Why the secrecy over the publicly-funded Deloitte Access Economics pokies card review?”
Ms Webb said it was unacceptable the Parliament has to drag out the most basic of details such as intent, purpose, origin, scope and timeframe of this furtive Deloitte Access review of the Government’s pokies card promise.
“Will the Deloitte Access review analyse the social and economic harm currently being experienced due to pokies addiction and harm? We do not know because we haven’t seen the terms of reference.
“Will the Deloitte Access review model the positive for people, families and local businesses due to the positive redirection of money from pokies? We do not know because we haven’t seen the terms of reference.
“Maybe the Deloitte Access review is already complete. Again, without the public release of the review’s scope and terms of reference we do not know the agreed contractual timeframe.
“Why the secrecy? The Legislative Council decided it doesn’t agree with the Tasmanian community being kept in the dark on this matter, which is why it has supported my call for the Terms of Reference to be released straight away.
“The Premier must now disclose publicly the scope of this secretive industry-driven review. To fail to do so is to treat the Parliament and the Tasmanian community with contempt.”
Ms Webb’s motion, see text below, passed by the Legislative Council on Tuesday the 29th of October 2024.
Text of Ms Webb’s motion (supported by majority of the Legislative Council):
That the Legislative Council:
- Notes the State Government’s Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission Ministerial Direction (No. 1) 2022 requiring the implementation of a mandatory cashless card system for poker machines in Tasmanian hotels, clubs and casinos, including loss limits, breaks in play and optional commitment for time spent playing;
- Acknowledges the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission’s public consultation process on the implementation of the poker machine mandatory card, which closed on the 18th of October this year;
- Notes the statement provided on the Adjournment debate by the Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly, on Wednesday the 16th of October this year, that the Department of State Growth has engaged Deloitte Access Economics to undertake an analysis of the social and economic impact of the Government’s poker machine pre-commitment card policy;
- Further notes that the Premier has not released publicly the terms of reference or contract provided for the Deloitte Access Economic review; and
- Calls on the Government to release immediately the terms of reference for the Deloitte Access Economics’ social and economic impact review of the poker machine pre-commitment card policy, as commissioned by the Department of State Growth.
View Background Briefing Paper and Timeline on the mandatory pokies pre-commitment card, October 2024 here or below:
