Media Release: Premier faces Vote on Pokies Card Deloittes Review Terms of Reference

Premier faces Vote on Pokies Card Deloittes Review Terms of Reference

Monday, 28 October 2024

Premier Jeremy Rockliff is under increasing pressure to release details of the Deloitte Access Economics review of the promised pokies mandatory pre-commitment card, and is facing a formal parliamentary vote this week requesting he do so.

“It is over a week since the existence of this secretive Deloittes Access review of the pokies mandatory pre-commitment card policy was dragged out of the Liberal government in parliament, and over a week of Premier Rockliff ignoring calls for its terms of reference to be made public,” Ms Webb said.

“When the Legislative Council sits this week I will be bringing on for debate my motion calling for the immediate release of the Deloitte Access review terms of reference.

“The government’s slippery behaviour regarding this secret report is deeply disturbing.  It is concerning that its existence had to be dragged out of them via parliament, and it is unacceptable we have to go back to parliament to secure further basic details such as what the reviewers are actually looking at, who they are talking to and its timeframe.

Ms Webb said the only reason for the Premier refusal to provide the Deloitte Access terms of reference when requested by the Lower House on the 17^th of October, and when subsequently asked by journalists, is to avoid confirming this is a pokies industry driven review seeking to undermine the mandatory pokies pre-commitment card implementation process currently underway.

“It is clear the Tasmanian community were not meant to know of the existence of this industry driven review until it was complete and ready for the government to release in an attempt to justify breaking their promise to deliver potentially nation-leading pokies reforms.

“Make no mistake, the Deloitte Access review is intended to disrupt and derail the mandatory pokies pre-commitment card implementation process currently underway.

“Predictions are the review will recommend the pokies card be watered down to only being voluntary, or with much larger limits, or only introduced as a limited trial, or that focus is transferred to less-effective measures, such as facial recognition technology which the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission found would be ineffective at protecting consumers. 

“Similar watered-down versions of the card have been tried elsewhere and found to be ineffective in protecting the community, but have continued to protect pokies barons’ profits.

“Pokies impact Tasmanians and destroy lives. There is a genuine public interest in the community seeing the terms of reference for this secretive report even if it is only to understand why they are not amongst those who get to participate.  It is extraordinary that it may take a parliamentary vote to drag such basic details out into the light of day,” Ms Webb said.

Ms Webb’s motion, see text below, will be debated in the Legislative Council tomorrow,  Tuesday the 29^th of October.

Text of Ms Webb’s motion: 

 That the Legislative Council:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. Further notes that the Premier has not released publicly the terms of reference or contract provided for the Deloitte Access Economic review; and
5. 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: