Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says Julia Gillard will lose all credibility if she reneges on the deal struck with independent MP Andrew Wilkie, and backs down on ‘meaningful’ poker machine reform.
After the last general election, the PM won the support of Mr Wilkie in return for agreeing to introduce reforms to deal with soaring levels of gambling addiction.
With the defection of Liberal Peter Slipper to the speaker’s chair, firming up Labor Party numbers in the House of Representatives, Mr Wilkie’s support is now less crucial to the government.
The Prime Minister has subsequently declined to reaffirm her commitment to the mandatory pre-commitment technology, which would force gamblers to set betting limits before playing poker machines.
The government will now be tempted to delay the proposed reforms in order to avoid clashes with clubs in marginal seats before the next election.
Senator Xenophon, a supporter of Mr Wilkie and a fellow advocate for reform, said this week that going back on the deal she made would be immensely damaging to Ms Gillard.
“It will be a massive blow to her credibility and I don’t think she could recover from that,” he said.
Mr Xenophon told Neos Kosmos: “The important thing is that we get substantial poker machine reform. That’s what most Australians want.
“The onus is now on the government to honour their commitment. If they don’t deliver mandatory pre-commitment then they need to go back to Andrew Wilkies original position which is $1 bets.
“Many hundreds of thousands of people are being hurt every year by poker machines. It’s the most seductive and addictive form of gambling causing enormous damage, and something needs to happen.”
In response to reports that Clubs Australia is warning MPs that it will continue its multi-million dollar campaign against the changes, Mr Xenaphon said: “It shows how desperate they are. People will see through their campaign to blackmail and bully MPs.”
Andrew Wilkie says that he remains committed to fulfilling his agreement with the PM to bring in mandatory pre-commitment measures at clubs and pubs by 2014, and that if legislation to formalise the reform has not passed Parliament by May 8, he will withdraw his support for the government.
“I am still committed to mandatory pre-commitment on the original timeline. That’s what I hope to achieve, and I certainly wouldn’t accept any significant variation from that,” Mr Wilkie told the media.
Yesterday the Prime Minister conceded for the first time that the deal brokered with Mr Wilkie does not have enough support to pass Parliament.
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Gillard said there was an “appetite for reform” among MPs but added that it would not translate into votes to get new laws through the House of Representatives. “We need to get everybody on the same page.”
The PM declined to state where she stands on mandatory pre-commitment technology, which she promised in return for Mr Wilkie’s support.
Mr Wilkie was due to meet the Prime Minister last night in Melbourne to continue their negotiations.
