00:00Another weekend and questions over another change to the Tasmanian government's pokies policies.
00:08Look, we're about freedom of choice. We're about supporting people with gambling addiction in all its forms to ensure that we have freedom of choice in Tasmania.
00:20On Friday, the government revealed it will introduce a ticket-in, ticket-out system for pokies for up to $200 at a time. Another step away from the mandatory pre-commitment card announced in 2022 by then-Minister Michael Ferguson, who is disappointed with the government's approach.
00:38I would not expect Mr Ferguson to change those views at all. In actual fact, we're aligned when we come to the pre-commitment card. We have different ways of getting there in terms of the national approach, which is important.
00:52In the absence of a national approach, the government is moving ahead with other policies, some of which have been put forward by the gaming industry.
01:00We listen to all industries. We listen to whether it's the mining industry, aquaculture industry, the farming industry, the tourism industry.
01:11The advice they've been getting from their own relevant bureaucracy is to introduce pre-commitment.
01:18The advice they've been getting from the THA and others is to avoid doing anything that will interrupt their profit.
01:25The THA being the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, now called Hospitality Tasmania, which is yet to comment publicly on the new proposals.
01:34But the Labor opposition is on board.
01:37We'll be seeking a briefing from the government to understand how these reforms will work, but it is a positive step forward for Tasmania.
01:44It will reduce harm.
01:46There is some evidence that suggests that these ticket-in, ticket-out systems, as they're called, actually provide some incentive for people to gamble a little more.
01:57Almost $18 million was lost on the pokies in Tasmania last month alone, a figure that continues to rise year on year.
02:05And on Friday, a report for the government by Deloitte said the pre-commitment cards would have provided a net benefit for the economy of $230 million
02:14by reducing demand on mental health services and the justice system and helping people to spend money on other things.
02:21Thanks for joining us.
02:27zwar
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