Panicked Gillard, Incompetent Labor Do 180 on Pokie Reform

Media Release— 3:53 pm, Saturday, 21 January 2012

The Coalition has long called for the Gillard Labor Government to heed the Productivity Commission’s recommendation for a trial of their mandatory pre-commitment scheme. Time and time again they refused.

Now that Julia Gillard is breaking her promise to Andrew Wilkie she has decided that a trial is a good idea. This is contrary to everything she and her government have said in the past.

It is what the industry has been calling for. What local clubs have been calling for. Unfortunately it is political game-playing, not good public policy making, that has led Ms Gillard to want a trial.

Ms Gillard and Labor ignored clubs and the industry. They didn’t meet with them. They didn’t consult them. Now, at the 11th hour they want them to run a trial. The reality is, the Gillard Labor government should have been consulting and working with the industry from day one to assess what realistic and workable measures could be developed to help problem gamblers.

Ms Gillard and Labor’s bullying tactics have failed. It is now clear this has been about one thing and one thing alone – Ms Gillard holding on to the keys to The Lodge.

This government has demonstrated two things in as many days: firstly, they can’t be trusted and secondly, they are prepared to do anything, say anything and promise anything to cling to power.

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