Independent MP Andrew Wilkie insists his poker machine reforms remain on track after a meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday.

Mr Wilkie is fighting off speculation from his anti-pokies ally Senator Nick Xenophon that his plan will fail because key independents will not support it.

He issued a brief written statement on Sunday night saying his two-hour meeting with Ms Gillard in Hobart was productive, but did not reveal the details of their talks.

Mr Wilkie, whose support of the Labor minority government hinges on the gambling reforms, says he expects to be able to give a detailed update later in the week.

Senator Xenophon cast doubt over the Government's commitment to the reforms, saying the change in speaker had given it more members on the floor of parliament, decreasing Labor's reliance on Mr Wilkie's support.

"The deal was all about marginalising Andrew Wilkie," he said.

He said Mr Wilkie needed to press Ms Gillard on whether the Government is serious on the issue.

"Andrew Wilkie has behaved honourably and in good faith on poker machine reform from day one. The problem is the Government hasn't. It's playing a double game," he said.

Earlier on Sunday Mr Wilkie played down Senator Xenophon's comments, saying he had enough support to put in place mandatory pre-commitment technology for poker machines.

"I am confident the numbers are there. It got a whole lot easier for the Government when Peter Slipper moved into the speaker's position," he said.

"The numbers are there so I'm confident that these reforms will be realised."

A spokesman for Ms Gillard says the Government is committed to gambling reform.

Topics: federal-government, government-and-politics

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2012 at 8:51am:

AINT THAT THE TRUTH   

Quote:


It also would allow them to support Wilkie and to go around one of the other independants not supporting the legislation?

lets face it she hasnt anything to lose by not going ahead with it... her credibility is already shredded.. she couldnt careless very arrogant.

has never apologised for her lie before the election and neither has swan..she couldnt careless what we think of her.

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 16^th, 2012 at 9:44am:


I have no idea what the numbers will be - so why not put all the cards on the table - the article was only looking at the point from one perspective even though the alternative I pointed out is probably more likely.

The government will try their best to get this through and any politician with a conscience will support it.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie is heading to Adelaide this morning to meet his ally Senator Nick Xenophon amid speculation that his proposed poker machine reforms are doomed to failure.

Mr Wilkie insists the reforms remain on track after a behind-closed-doors meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Tasmania yesterday.

But Senator Xenophon has suggested the reforms may fail because the Government no longer needs Mr Wilkie's vote on the floor of the House of Representatives following the installation of renegade Liberal Peter Slipper as speaker.

"He wants to see me, sit down with me face-to-face to nut out what's occurred," Senator Xenophon told ABC Local Radio this morning.

"I have a pretty cynical view given what I've heard. I mean, I heard stories about Peter Slipper becoming speaker a few weeks before he actually became speaker. Clearly his [Mr Wilkie's] negotiating position has been weakened as a result of that occurring."

Mr Wilkie's support for the Labor minority government has hinged on plans for reforms which would force clubs to bring in pre-commitment technology and ask gamblers to specify how much they are willing to lose on the pokies.

The Government had promised to pass the changes into law this year but its commitment to the mandatory pre-commitment scheme has been clouded since Mr Slipper's defection effectively gave Labor an extra vote in the House.

After meeting with Ms Gillard yesterday Mr Wilkie released a brief statement saying the talks were productive and there was a spirit of goodwill.

"As discussions are ongoing I don't intend to offer a running commentary and expect to be able to provide a detailed public update later in the week," the statement goes on to say.

Senator Xenophon and the Greens are urging Mr Wilkie to change direction and instead support $1 maximum bets instead.

Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have both criticised the idea of mandatory pre-commitment and are unlikely to support it.

Mr Windsor will only say he will look at the idea of $1 bets but wants to make sure it would not be too expensive for clubs to implement.

"I think the $1 bet suggestion is a lot easier to understand for people. I think people have difficulty understanding what mandatory pre-commitment actually meant in the first place," Mr Windsor told AM.

"Obviously putting a limit on the bet is more understandable. The costing arrangements would obviously have to be looked at - what would it cost to actually convert the machines? What impacts would that have? I think there'd be a lot more work to be done on any reform, particularly that involved great cost."

Clubs Australia says the industry is deeply opposed to $1 bets as well as mandatory commitment.

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, gambling, tas, sa, australia

First posted January 16, 2012 10:28:14

More stories from Tasmania

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 16^th, 2012 at 9:23am:


Well, if you are right, do you think that Wilkie will keep HIS word, and pull support? You have a point about Labor being against it, despite the fact the Gillard and Macklin have stated absolute support on the matter. That's no contradiction, it's just typical lying from the ALP, probably their best asset.

The government, however, is still on a knife edge. Sure, they have an extra buffer because of the turncoat Slipper, but if Thomson is charged, then they're back to the slimmest of margins.

Greens want $1 max bets.

James Packers moddelling shows $1 max bets will hurt machine revenue more than pre-committment.

Wilkie will support $1 max bets.

Windor wont support mandatory pre-committment, but is open to $1 max bets.

Oakeshott has massive concerns about pre-committment.

ALP is the one who wont budge.

Hmmmm, do they want it to fail?