As we all know, the Gillard government took office following last year's election by promising the Greens and independents various things. The Greens were promised the carbon tax, Tony Windsor was promised broadband and there was even a proposal to pump millions of dollars into a hospital in Tasmania before the press got hold of the story and the cries of "pork barreling" forced the abandonment of the idea.
Because Tasmanian "independent" Andrew Wilkie had that taken off him he came up with another stupid scheme to blackmail Gillard with. That was the incredible pre-committment to poker machines scheme. Players would need to buy a certain number of credits in advance, all clubs in Australia would be linked by computer and nobody could go over the limit. We were told this would wipe out gambling addiction and lead to happy family life with bunnies hopping around green fields with flowers and birds twittering.
Of course the reality is somewhat different.
The only place this scheme has been implemented is Denmark, and the Daily Telegraph has reported that - not only has the scheme failed to curtail slot machine addiction - but gambling overall has in fact increased. Gamblers have gone online and are losing more money than ever. The whole pre-committment to pokies has been an expensive white elephant and a failure.
Andrew Wilkie has been making threatening noises that if the government does not implement his scheme he will withdraw support for the government. To quote an old Aussie Rules slogan "I'd like to see that". Wilkie knows that if he goes through with his threat, Tony Abbott will become prime minister, call an election and Wilkie (and the other independents) will be tossed out on their collective ears. So it's an empty threat.
Wilkie seems oblivious to the role licensed clubs play in the fabric of family life and community in NSW and Qld in particular. The proceeds of poker machines are plowed back into junior sport, local charities, cheap meals, subsidised health and fitness facilities for pensioners, raffles and countless other services to benefit the community.
At this stage it looks like Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor might not support pre-committment. In Rob Oakeshott's electorate on the mid North Coast of NSW there are a number of clubs with very large memberships. These clubs in rural areas are in grave danger of closing if pre-committment goes ahead. Already the Canberra Raiders NRL team has lost its major sponsor and thousands of dollars in funding from The Tradies Clubs, with the threat of pre-committment being specifically cited as the reason. The RSL has said that Anzac Day ceremonies are under threat as the various soldiers' clubs become financially unviable.
The whole pre-committment to poker machines scheme should be abandoned and club members and the rest of the community assured that their recreational and social activities can continue without threat. We can't afford tokenistic, feel good schemes which have failed overseas just so a prime minister without a mandate can continue limping along until we can finally pass judgement at an election.
