TIME TO TREAT POKIES AS A HEALTH ISSUE

It's time for the State Government to shift from a financial revenue focus to a health one to reduce pokies harm. 

Tasmanians concerned about the damage caused by problem gambling will be seriously disappointed after hearing Treasurer Eric Abetz announce the government’s 'do little’ approach.

Many in the broader community see that there is a fundamental problem with pokies policy being run out of Treasury. 

Treasury is responsible for revenue raising, not harm reduction. The gambling revenue from Electronic Gaming Machines located in towns and suburbs across Tasmania is a cash cow the Government doesn’t want to lose.  

In what is becoming a familiar pattern, the Government has disregarded an expert report demonstrating that using a mandatory pre-commitment card will significantly reduce the harm of poker machine gambling addiction. 

Why has the Government chosen to ignore the evidence in this report? Pokies gambling losses cause significant harm to individuals, their families, local communities - and businesses.

Only former Treasurer Michael Ferguson has had the courage to speak out against the Government's failure to protect Tasmanians.  There would be members of the Labor Party who feel the same way. Now is the time to speak up. 

The health and wellbeing of Tasmanian people and their families should be the number one priority of any government. 

The Deloitte expert report confirms that there are clear ways to effect strong harm reduction measures by introducing mandatory pre-commitment cards. 

Revenue from losses to pokies gambling is increasing month on month, with just under $18m lost in December 2025. Much of this loss is occurring in low socio-economic areas where these machines are concentrated.  

Pokies addiction is a health issue. Those who are vulnerable to addiction often have other conditions such as mental ill-health including loneliness, depression, other addictions and cognitive impairment.

The Government can choose to more effectively address the scourge of problem gambling by framing it a health and community wellbeing issue. The implications of harm to individuals, their families, and the community must be the primary concern.

The Government has the evidence and has instead chosen the path of poor pokies regulation. This proposed introduction of a lite-on ticket system, facial recognition for self-excluded pokies users, and ATMs in pokies venues are designed to perpetuate harm.

Later today I’ll have my first meeting with the Premier since becoming an Independent. Re-framing problem gambling as a preventive health issue will be a priority topic.