The New South Wales Labor party has adopted a tougher stance on poker machines, passing a motion at the state conference on Sunday that commits to removing 50% of gaming machines over the next decade. The motion, which received unanimous support, adds a plan for decisive action on problem gambling amid surging operator profits and accusations of inaction on reform.
Key Provisions of the Motion
The motion includes a moratorium on licenses for new machines, requiring clubs with profits exceeding $20 million from machines to pay higher taxes, and a commitment to significantly reduce the number of gaming machines in the state over 10 years. This means 50% of machines would be removed from operation. The motion also commits to mandatory facial recognition in every gaming room to support a statewide exclusion register, a policy the government is reportedly already working on.
Political Context and Support
Premier Chris Minns, who had been pushed by the party's left to adopt this approach, has been indirectly participating in negotiations. The motion was brought by Darcy Byrne, the Labor left mayor of Sydney's inner west, and negotiated by key right faction member and Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey. In his speech, Morey thanked the premier for his involvement. Byrne told delegates: "For too long, NSW politics has treated the pokies as a problem that everyone acknowledges, but which nobody is willing to solve … for too long the private interests of the poker machine lobby have trumped the public interest of preventing addiction and harm."
Momentum for Reform
Byrne later told Guardian Australia that "momentum for real reform of poker machine harm is becoming unstoppable." Although Minns is not compelled to legislate the policy, the move comes as Labor seeks to project unity ahead of next March's state election. NSW gaming minister David Harris spoke in favor of the motion on Sunday.
Conference Hijack and Protest Laws
In an awkward moment, the Labor left briefly hijacked the conference agenda to force a debate on motions to repeal protest laws, submitted by 56 local branches. The entire left faction backed a motion to scrap two laws, but the slot for discussion was placed second last on the agenda, leading critics to claim an attempt to silence debate. During the country Labor issues section, Angus McFarland, secretary of the left-aligned Australian Services Union, moved to bring forward the discussion of social justice and legal affairs. He argued it would be absurd not to allocate time, citing recent protest law changes justified in the name of social cohesion but resulting in police breaking up peaceful demonstrations. The NSW roads minister Jenny Aitchison spoke against the motion, calling it an attempt to silence the bush. The motion was rejected by the right-controlled conference.
Protests During Prime Minister's Speech
A speech by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was marked by protests similar to those on Saturday. As he approached the stage, two protesters draped a keffiyeh and a flag reading "Stop Arming Genocide. Free Palestine" over a balcony. They were not removed, and the flag remained visible throughout his speech. Another protester walked out from the conference floor wearing a Palestinian flag. Debates on Palestine and the Aukus agreement were not expected to occur, with discussion of global affairs last on the agenda.
Albanese's Remarks and Federal Inaction
Albanese hit out at an "axis of grievance" forming between the Liberals, Nationals, and One Nation, as speakers focused on the threat posed by Pauline Hanson's party in NSW. The prime minister, under fire over federal inaction on gambling reform, left the conference before debate on NSW state policy. The 14-point platform adopted by the state party calls for continued lobbying of the federal government to prohibit all gambling inducements, as recommended by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy's landmark inquiry into online gambling harms.
