Federal Government to Go Ahead With Reforms

The federal government will push ahead with gambling reforms, even without support from the states, Families Minister Jenny Macklin told a gambling studies conference.

Players Limit

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Macklin told delegates the reforms would focus on problem gamblers, including the introduction of a pre-commitment system in which punters purchase a card that allows them to set a limit for themselves.

Speaking at Jupiters Hotel and Casino, the minister also said that she doesn't think the new Liberal government in Victoria will make it any more difficult for the Labor federal government to achieve their reforms than would have been the case when their own party was in power in the state.

Gambling Reform

"I think there is a real understanding in Victoria about the importance of gambling reform," Macklin was quoted as saying by the Herald.

"I'm very pleased to see some of the remarks made by Mr (Ted) Baillieu before the election about the importance of dealing with problem gambling and I look forward to working with the new Victorian government to implement these reforms."

Victoria traditionally has the highest rate of tax revenue per capita out of all the states, as well as the highest incidence of problem gambling, measuring in recent surveys at almost double the rate per capita as that in New South Wales and Queensland.