As a result of the NSW Labor Conference over the weekend, the state government is expected to make moves toward a proposal for new taxes and changes to gaming legislation in pubs and clubs.
The Labor event took place 4-5 July at its traditional home, the Sydney Town Hall, welcoming guests including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey and Wesley Mission Reverend Stu Cameron.
A key topic was concerns raised by MPs on the topic of gambling and poker machines in venues. Senior party representatives delivered assessments of the situation, accusing decision-makers of “looking the other way” on the issue of harm minimisation as they reputedly succumb to pressure from motivated representatives of the ‘gambling lobby’ to not draft new regulations.
Byrne and Morey floored a proposal aimed at ratcheting restrictions while potentially improving the government’s revenue outcome. It would install a moratorium on new licences for EGMs, and commit to halving the machine transfer limit between venues over the next decade.
It would also prevent operators providing perks such as free food for players and force facial recognition technology into gaming rooms, and in a policy of pragmatism apply a new tax on clubs that generate gaming revenue of more than $20 million.
Byrne suggested the cited public interest of preventing addiction and harm has been usurped by private interests profiting from pokies.
“[On] this day at this conference for our party, this was a calamity that can no longer be ignored because the scale of the crisis has become obscene,” Byrne said.
Wesley Mission voiced it is not in favour of facial recognition technology, but wanted further regulations in the form of the mandatory shutdown expanding to midnight through to 10am, and introduction of a carded play system incorporating betting limits.
The motion presented by Byrne and Morey passed unanimously. The Labor state government is not obliged to take outcomes of the Conference to parliament to create new laws, but the Minns administration will undoubtedly face considerable backlash from unions and MPs if it does not.
In reality the state government will now work on working with stakeholders over the details in the lead-up to the state election, in March 2027.
Gaming minister David Harris was in attendance at the Conference and spoke favourably of the proposal.
Harris described the plan as one that reflected the best of the Labor movement, commending its mandate to put “harm minimisation at the heart” of the system and expand support for those experiencing gambling harm.
He also voiced support for the principles of strengthening prevention measures and ensuring appropriate accountability, praising that these were “built into the system, not borne by those it has failed”.
Harris’ statements are the strongest implication to date that the government in NSW may yet initiate more tough measures, having made the decision to not introduce mandatory, carded play after the 2024 cashless gaming trial saw widespread criticism and failed to produce meaningful results – largely due to a lack of participation by players.
