Pokies are bad, we were wrong - Past Victorian Premiers admit mistake

Finally 12 years after poker machines were introduced in Victoria, the past premiers that over saw the introduction and continued exapnsion of poker machines in Victoria have admitted that it was a mistake.

Joan Kirner, the Victorian Labor Premier who introduced poker machines to Victorian pubs and clubs in 1992 now admits that it was a mistake, and the most recent past premier, the Liberals' Jeff Kennett agrees.

In fact they both agree, along with another previous Victorian premier, Labor's John Cain that poker machines should have been restricted to the Casino where there are 2500 machines compared to the 27,500 machines located in pubs and clubs across Victoria.

Victoria now has a reputation of being where to go if you want to see how not to establish a legal gaming machine industry.

Of course, these premiers are being wise in hindsight, but surely this is a sobering lesson for current Victorian Premier, Labor's Steve Bracks and Gaming Minister, John Pandazopoulos who have an opportunity to significantly change the gambling landscape though the current relicensing process.

Why should the state be forced to endure the consequences of another 20 years of suffering at the hands of a poker machine industry reluctant to put in place measure that would limit the harm from machines.

The current Government need to think practically about measures to reduce harms, or they may have this mistake hanging over them as Kirner and Kennett do.

I am not saying that abolition is neccessary, however significant changes need to be made to the stucture of the industry and the practice and delivery of gaming and even the machines themselves in order to make poker machine gambling at the minimum an acceptable form of entertainment even though some risk will remain.

What do you think?

GG