NSW MPs Local Groups Demand Pokie Reforms

Pressure is mounting on the major parties to commit to reforming the multi-billion dollar NSW pokie industry, which a coalition of NSW MPs and community groups describe as a scourge on the state.
NSW Greens and Independent MP Helen Dalton joined with Wesley Mission and a series of community and religious organisations to launch the "Put pokies in their place" platform on Wednesday.
They are demanding reform of the state's gambling industry in the lead up to the March election.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says the major parties in NSW have been reluctant to tackle the scourge of poker machines for decades.
"But we are at a turning point," she said.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was committed to working with the industry to implement change, retrait 1win and was meeting with stakeholders on Thursday.
"I think it's important that as a society we accept that change is required," the premier told reporters on Wednesday.
"(The issues) are complex, but we need to do what's right, and that's what I've committed to doing."
The pressure to implement a range of reforms comes after the NSW Crime Commission found "billions of dollars of 'dirty' cash" was funnelled through poker machines in pubs and clubs every year.
Earlier this week, the premier committed to working with industry on the introduction of a cashless gaming card, after the commission recommended the card to tackle money laundering.
The head of Clubs NSW, Josh Landis says the cards won't tackle organised crime.
Labor Leader Chris Minns says he's now supporting an expanded trial of a cashless gaming card, but added there was evidence suggesting the cards could create harm.
"I can't give a blank cheque, or bipartisan support for a proposal that I haven't seen before," Mr Minns told ABC radio on Wednesday.
"Particularly when you consider that there's varying views in relation to whether it would work or not."
Mr Minns cited a 2020 Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation report which showed cashless gaming cards could "induce" problem gambling.
"Because the pain of payment is lower when you're using a card rather than feeding cash into a machine," he said.
Ms Faerhmann says that's no excuse, adding the issue could be easily dealt with by including betting limits on the card.
"There are just so many ways to address that in one fell swoop."
Independent MP Helen Dalton says gambling lobbyists are happy with the status quo because they believe they contribute to the community.
"They're also taking away from the community," Ms Dalton said.
"People put their hard earned cash through poker machines and there's nothing for the kids.
"I think the government and the opposition have a gambling problem and it needs to be resolved."
The group has demanded the Liberal and Labor parties come together and make five major reforms on pokie machines, including:
* Implementing a universal cashless gambling card in NSW with harm reduction measures built into the system.
* Introducing mandatory hours where poker machines have to be turned off, between midnight and 10am.
* Reforming the self-exclusion system to make it state-wide, funded by gambling revenue, and independently run.
* Giving local councils a statutory right to make submissions over every poker machine application made in their community - and the ability to appeal decisions made by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority
* Mandatory publishing of poker machine data by every venue every six months