NSW Labor to adopt tougher pokies stance; mayor says 'momentum for real reform unstoppable'
The NSW Labor conference is set to unanimously pass a motion for stricter poker machine policies, including a moratorium on new machines, higher taxes on high-profit clubs, and a 50% reduction in machines over 10 years.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns will head into the next election with a tougher stance on poker machines after being pushed by the party's left to adopt the approach. A motion expected to pass the NSW Labor conference with unanimous support on Sunday afternoon will add a plan to take “decisive action” on problem gambling and the growing use of poker machines to its policy platform. This comes amid surging profits for operators and accusations of inaction on reform.
The motion, seen by Guardian Australia, includes a commitment to a moratorium on licences for new machines, requiring clubs with profits of more than $20m on machines to pay more tax, and a commitment to “significantly reduce” the number of gaming machines over 10 years. The commitment would mean a 50% reduction in machines. The motion also commits to introducing mandatory facial recognition in every gaming room to support a statewide exclusion register—policies the government is reportedly already working on.
Labor sources said the Minns government, although not directly involved, has been cooperating with negotiations and was aware of the growing grassroots support for the motion brought by Darcy Byrne, the Labor left mayor of Sydney’s inner west. Byrne told Guardian Australia that “momentum for real reform of poker machine harm is becoming unstoppable”.
Although Minns is not compelled to legislate the policy in the motion, the move comes as Labor is trying to project unity ahead of next March’s state election. On Sunday, an awkward moment occurred when the Labor left briefly hijacked the conference agenda to force a debate on motions to repeal protest laws, but that motion was rejected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s speech was marked by protests similar to those on Saturday, when two men unfurled a Palestinian flag. Albanese hit out at an “axis of grievance” forming between the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation. He left the conference before debate on NSW state policy.
