Poker Machines

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, a question about poker machine losses.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Australian gamblers lost more than $14.5 billion on poker machines last financial year, significantly more than in 2018-19—the last full financial year uninterrupted by COVID restrictions. The new analysis by Monash University School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, on behalf of the great anti-gambling organisation Alliance for Gambling Reform, found South Australia reported the steepest increase in the country with gambling losses over the four years up by 34.6 per cent to $917 million—that is almost $230 million a year, or $630,000 a day, and does not include EGMs at the Casino. The Alliance for Gambling Reform is urging all states to fast-track the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment cashless gaming cards.

New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, has committed to undertaking a two-year trial and Victoria has indicated its intent to introduce a similar system, while Tasmania is leading the nation on these reforms, committed to bringing in mandatory precommitment from November to limit losses to $100 a day, $500 a month and $5,000 a year. My questions to the minister are:

1. What meaningful reforms is this government planning to introduce to directly address this appalling situation?

2. Does this government have the same intentions as Tasmania and, if not, why not, given the lives of South Australians are being ruined by their addiction to poker machines?

3. According to the latest Auditor-General's Annual Report tabled in parliament, there are now 11,706 EGMs in hotels and clubs in SA. How is this justifiable given the prescribed targets and requirements for reductions in numbers of EGMs in this state?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest and advocacy in this area. I will refer those questions to the minister responsible in another place and bring back a reply.