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Government Loses Wilkie's Support Over Gambling Reform

Tuesday 24 January, 2012 16:30

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Australian MP Andrew Wilkie has withdrawn his support of the Gillard minority government after Prime Minister Gillard reneged on promises about pushing forward gambling reforms.

Wilkie remained hopeful that the pokies reforms would be legislated according to his May deadline with the technology roll-out occurring in 2014, following a meeting he had with the Prime Minister recently in Hobart. Prime Minister Gillard has now presented a new plan to tackle problem gamble that will see the roll-out of technology delayed until 2016.

Mr. Wilkie claims that the Prime Minister reneged on her deal and as a result, he can no longer show his support for the Government.

"I will only support motions of no confidence in the event of serious misconduct and not support politically opportunistic motions. I will consider budget measures on their merits," Wilkie stated. "I regard the Prime Minister to be in breach of the written agreement she signed, leaving me no option, but to honor my word and end my current relationship with her government."

"The government's explanation that it doesn't have the numbers is simply wrong," he argued. "The legislation should be debated in the parliament and tested on the floor of the house," he said.

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Wilkie also said that he wanted to maintain a positive working relationship with the government, although he expressed his disappointment that the Prime Minister did not act according to her word.

"We should be able to trust our politicians to keep their word," he said. "Frankly, a deal is a deal."

Mr. Wilkie said that he would support the government's plan despite the fact that he felt it was not adequate. The compromise would see the reform implemented for trial, starting on January 1, 2013. The government has approached Clubs ACT about a trial of the reforms.

Gillard on Loss of Wilkie's Support

Commenting on Wilkie's claims of broken promises, Ms. Gillard said, "The circumstances of this parliament are clear? there is not the support in the House of Representatives for the Andrew Wilkie plan."

"We need people working together on the same page to get change and the package of reforms we're announcing today I believe will get that support in the parliament," Gillard continued.

"To not take this approach means that you don't get change and not getting change is too big a risk for those Australians and their families that struggle day to day with the pressures that problem gambling puts on their shoulders."

Clubs Australia has said that they do not view the watered down package as a victory for them and they will continue their campaign against the reforms.

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