ROSS FITZGERALD. Professor and author.

For decades, it was an entrenched position of most academics that theAustralian Labor Party was the repository of reformand the Liberals and Nationals a source of reaction.

But in Australia, vital reforms often come from the conservative side of politics.

Think John oward and gun control, and Robert Menzies substantially widening the access to higher education via Commonwealth Scholarships.

Now, we have two Liberal premiers promising to introduce pathbreaking reform.

In Tasmania, Liberal premierJeremy Rockliff led all other states in committing to introduce a mandatory cashless gambling card for every club, pub and casino.

Players throughout Tasmania will need to set a daily loss limit of up to $100, monthly limits of up to $500 and annual limits of up to $5000. Limits can only be set higher if a person has a proven capacity to afford it.

While some were surprised this initiative came from a Liberal government that four years ago fought an election campaign opposing Labor’s policy of removing poker machines, the reform is a breakthrough.

Although Tasmania only has 3,399 poker machines in 95 venues, the move – which critically has bipartisan support – is a landmark in Australian gambling reform.

In New South Wales, Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet has unreservedly committed to a mandatory, cashless gambling card for all NSW pubs, clubs and casinos. This followed thedamning findings of the NSW Crime Commissionwhich found billions of dollars in proceeds of crime were being laundered through poker machines and that opportunistic crimes were being committed to feed addiction to gambling on poker machines.

Perrottet’s move has not only won the backing of Liberal elder statesman John Howard, but the support of Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, the NSW branch of the Health Services Union, and the United Workers Union.

ALP Opposition Leader Chris Minns has refused to offer bipartisan support for these much-needed reforms or to criticise the aggressive lobbying campaign that the gambling industry is conducting. Instead, Minns is backing the ClubsNSW proposal for voluntary trials.

But the fact that these trials arevoluntarymeans those feeding criminal proceeds through poker machines and those who are harmed by gambling addiction are unlikely to opt in.

Arguably, the gambling industry’s response is not primarily aimed at reducing human suffering, but at delaying any meaningful action – in the hope that they can kill off future reform with their deep pockets and aggressive political lobbying.

Despite Perrottet’s current problems, including revelations about dressing as a Nazi for his 21st birthday and division within the parliamentary Liberal party, the NSW state election to be held in 10 weeks looks set to be a tight contest.

One poll released in the final weeks of the NSW parliament (but taken before Perrottet’s cashless gambling card commitment) had Minns trailing as preferred premier. In another poll, although the ALP remained ahead on its primary vote, its lead over the Coalition had slipped by 5 per cent.

There is yet to be a published poll that includes the two parties’ position on the mandatory pre-commitment cashless card. But what I hear anecdotally is that Minns is headed for trouble if he continues to be deaf to the public anger about poker machines.

People I talk to in Sydney’s Labor heartland say that, to them, this issue is critical. My oldest friend, Ken, and a newer acquaintance, Gretel, both of whom have never voted Liberal in their life, tell me that, unless Minns agrees to a bipartisan approach, in March they will vote 1 for Dominic Perrottet.

Although this is only a survey of two, it could be reflective of a major electoral worry for the ALP in NSW, who are far from being a shoo-in. Some independents in key seats, running on the issue of poker machine reform, could be a dagger to the heart of Labor’s chances of winning the March 25 state election.

People I talk in Sydney’s Labor heartland say that, to them, this issue is critical. My oldest friend, Ken, and a newer acquaintance, Gretel, both of whom have never voted Liberal in their life, tell me that, unless Minns agrees to a bipartisan approach, in March they will vote 1 for Dominic Perrottet.

Although this is only a survey of two, it could be reflective of a major electoral worry for the ALP in NSW, who are far from being a shoo-in. Some independents in key seats, running on the issue of poker machine reform, could be a dagger to the heart of Labor’s chances of winning the March 25 state election.

In n Labor’s most marginal seat, Kogarah, held by Minns, independent candidate Troy Stolz, a gaming industry whistle-blower who previously worked for ClubsNSW, could even cause the defeat of the Opposition leader who, on redrawn boundaries, now only holds the seat by 0.1 per cent.

Many longstanding ALP voters maintain that gambling reform is a social justice issue that should be Labor’s “bread and butter”. In fact, all the major parties are more than ever at risk of losing seats to new waves of socially committed candidates such as reformist independents, and also to the Greens.

It’s well and truly time that, throughout Australia, The Whitlams song,Blow Up the Pokies(first released in 2000) was resurrected as an anti-gambling anthem. Its powerful lyrics were co-written by lead singer and keyboardistTim Freedman, about a fellow band member who struggled with gambling addiction, and eventually committed suicide.

Freedman has doubled down on his opposition to poker machines and the need for Labor to step up.

“This mincing around the cashless gambling card is making it impossible for me to vote Labor as I would normally. There are plenty like me, and Chris Minns should be very careful to do the right thing.”

It’s a warning Minns would do well to heed, as many Laborites are seething at his weak position on the critical need to introduce poker machine reform.

The Tasmanian and NSW Liberal premiers’ unambiguous commitment to introduce cashless gaming cards for all clubs, pubs and casinos throughout their respective states is a huge step to help prevent money laundering and addictive gambling.

This is even though it does not tackle the scourge of saturation gambling advertising on prime-time television and online betting, which has occurred without any community or political debate.

But one positive step at a time.

Let’s hope, though, that the introduction of cashless gaming cards in Tasmania and NSW is only a precursor of major gambling reform throughout Australia.

Ross Fitzgerald is emeritus professor of history and politics at Griffith University. His most recent book is My Last Drink: 32 stories of recovering alcoholics, coedited with Neal Price (Connor Court : Brisbane).

The Australian Financial Review,Monday 16 January 2023, p 39.

Scourge of gambling extends beyond pokies

Ross Fitzgerald (“NSW Labor can’t stand in the way of social justice on pokies”, January 16) gives a timelywarning that the plague of poker machines is only one part of a perfect storm of gambling scourges that seems to have come out of nowhere. Betting on sports, non-TAB off-course bookmaking, foreign bookmakers and television advertising that encourages betting with special deals and cash-back offers would once never have been contemplated.

  What is particularly disturbing is that this virtual abandonment of restrictions on gambling, seems to have occurred without any public or parliamentary debate on the social consequences. What use is limiting gambling on poker machines when people can bet by just tapping their phones?

Ian McFadyen
Narangba Qld

Chris Minns is taking a huge political risk

Ross Fitzgerald (“NSW Labor can’t stand in the way of social justice on pokies”, January 16) argues that NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns, should stop sitting on the fence and instead support NSW Premier Dom Perrottet’s call for urgent gambling reform.

  Ten weeks before an election, it is state Labor Minns who is taking a huge political risk on an issue of great importance to many. 

  A bipartisan approach would block the powerful gambling industry from reversing gambling reform 

  Gambling leads to high mental health and social costs for our communities, especially among disadvantaged groups. 

Alex Wodak

Darlinghurst, NSW

The Australian Financial Review,Tuesday, 17 January 2023, Letters p 31.