Step towards a trial of mandatory pre-commitment in the ACT

The Gillard Government today welcomed another step towards a large scale trial of mandatory pre-commitment technology in the ACT.

This afternoon ClubsACT met to discuss the Government’s proposal to trial pre-commitment in the territory from February 2013.

I welcome the in-principle support of ClubsACT to participating in a trial of mandatory pre-commitment in the ACT.

The Government wants to ensure that a staged, evidence-based approach is taken to implement changes in poker machine venues.

The Gillard Government has a clear plan to help the five million Australians affected by problem gambling.

Tomorrow we will release the draft legislation that will put into action other elements of the reform package the Government announced on 21 January this year, including implementing pre-commitment technology and dynamic warnings on poker machines and introducing a $250 daily ATM withdrawal limit in pokies venues.

The Government is committed to rolling pre-commitment technology out to every poker machine in Australia, while building the evidence base for mandatory pre-commitment.

This is the first time in Australia’s history a Commonwealth Government has taken national action to tackle problem gambling.