Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, said today that the proposal of $1 bet limits has become a test of the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Previously the Government has indicated that cost of implementation was a reason not to introduce $1 bet limits but a new report from the Australia Institute has exposed Clubs Australia figures as baseless.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, said that there was still a long way to go in the fight for meaningful pokies reform.

“The Government’s credibility is on the line if it dodges this important opportunity for reform,” said Senator Di Natale.

“It should get behind the Greens’ $1 bets proposal because it’s the cheapest, simplest and most effective reform with the best chance of passing the parliament.

“But if mandatory pre-commitment remains the government’s preferred option, the Greens will support it.

 Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, said that the government should not use a trial to delay pokies reform, which is another reason to embrace $1 bets.

“There is an opportunity to do something to curb the scourge of problem gambling right now – we don’t know if that opportunity will exist in the next term or under a future government,” said Senator Di Natale.

The Prime Minister has further reneged on her promise to protect our majestic forests, today aping Forestry Tasmania's lines on the breach of her August commitment, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown told reporters in Hobart today.

Senator Brown also discussed the move towards the Greens' $1 bet option - the simplest, cheapest and most effective way to tackle addiction to the pokies.

Richard spoke on the ABC's AM radio program this morning, putting forward his view as Greens spokesperson for Gambling that $1 maximum bets should be considered the best choice by the Government as they enter discussions with independent MP Andrew Wilkie this week on pokies reform.

"I think that there is a real risk that the policy proposal put forward by Andrew Wilkie won't get up but look, that's not the primary reason to support the $1 bet option.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown says all roads in the debate over poker machines are now leading top the Greens' one dollar bet limit option.

"Nick Xenophon's call for this option to be backed in today's press, and Andrew Wilkie's willingness to revert back to one dollar bet limits, and the fact that it is a much cheaper option for clubs to implement, points to this being the  point of agreement for everybody who wants to take real action on the damage to society of compulsive gambling.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling and health, Senator Richard Di Natale, has released a discussion paper that advocates combining harm minimisation measures with treating problem gambling like any other addiction.

“Limiting bets to $1 per spin remains the best way to minimise the harm of pokies addiction,” said Senator Di Natale.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, has called on the government to pursue $1 bet limits on the back of Coalition survey results.

“The results from Malcolm Turnbull’s pokies survey are in, and it is a big win for the Greens proposal of $1 bets,” said Senator Di Natale.

67% of respondents supported $1 bet limits in comparison to 56% for mandatory pre-commitment and 44% for voluntary pre-commitment.