Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Progressing a trial of mandatory pre-commitment in the ACT

A new committee will be established to oversee the trial of mandatory pre-commitment on poker machines in Canberra.

The Trial Oversight Committee will provide valuable technical and implementation advice to the Australian and ACT Governments, and the independent contractors who will manage and evaluate the trial.

The Minister for Community Services Jenny Macklin said the committee would include representatives from ClubsACT, the Tradies, the ACT Council of Social Service, the ACT Club Managers Association, United Voice, the Australian Institute of Family Studies, and the ACT and Australian Governments.

The committee will meet for the first time this month. Preparatory work for the trial will begin before the end of 2012.

The trial will be independently designed, managed and evaluated, including an independent review of the trial results by the Productivity Commission.

“The Australian Government will continue to work closely with trial partners to develop a robust trial of mandatory pre-commitment in Canberra,” Ms Macklin said.

“We also stand ready to introduce legislation for national poker machine reforms, including putting pre-commitment technology on every poker machine in the country, when the support of the Parliament is secured.”

The ACT Minister for Gaming and Racing, Joy Burch, said the Canberra trial would play an important role in determining future reforms to poker machines in Australia.

“A trial of mandatory pre-committment in the ACT will build on the substantial reforms already underway in the ACT”.

The CEO of Clubs ACT, Jeff House, today welcomed the establishment of the oversight committee.

“Whilst there is a large body of work that needs to be completed before the trial can commence, the establishment of this Oversight Committee is a key step in the timeline which will allow us to make some initial progress on completing that body of work. I look forward to continuing to work with Minister Macklin and her department,” Mr House said.

To ensure the community is informed during the roll out of the mandatory pre-commitment trial, the Australian Government will hold regular forums with interested stakeholders.

Industry representatives, academics and community groups can register their interest to be part of the regular forums on the rollout of the trial by emailing PGTaskforce@fahcsia.gov.au.