Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, said today that the likelihood of pokies reform has firmed with an extra vote for the government on the floor of the house.

“We are one vote closer to meaningful pokies reform with the option of $1 bet limits continuing to pick up speed,” said Senator Di Natale. 

“The Prime Minister and Minister Macklin have said repeatedly that they were not pursuing reform just because of the agreement with Andrew Wilkie, but because pokies addiction is destroying Australian families.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, has welcomed comments from Malcolm Turnbull in support of the Greens’ proposal on pokies reform.

“It’s pleasing to see that Mr Turnbull is appearing to favour the Greens’ $1 bet policy,” said Senator Di Natale.

“Mr Turnbull has joined a growing group in Parliament, including Tony Windsor and Nick Xenophon, who recognise that a $1 bet limit is the most straight forward, cheapest and most effective option for reform.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, said that the pokies industry claims about the cost of the Greens  $1 bet policy is based on false foundations.

“It’s time for the pokies pushers to stop selling porky pies because the public aren’t buying,” said Senator Di Natale

“The outlandish claims of a $3 billion cost for converting to $1 bet limits assumes that all machines would need to be changed overnight.

“But that is not our policy and the industry is well aware of this fact.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today welcomed growing support for the Greens' $1 bet limit policy as an effective way to tackle problem gambling.

"The Greens' bet limit option is good policy and we welcome the growing political shift towards our option, catching up with public opinion," Senator Brown said in Canberra.

"Limiting poker machine bets to $1 and jackpots to $500 has drawn strong public support. It is simple, effective and much cheaper for clubs and casinos to implement.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown spoke to reporters today about Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce withholding his lockout plans from the Government and doing enormous damage to Qantas.

Senator Brown also welcomed growing support for the Greens' $1 bet limit option as a means of tackling problem gambling. Other topics included coal seam gas exploration, food security and the rights of farmers to be able to produce food, and UNESCO.

“The $1 bet proposal was put on the table by the Greens as a circuit breaker and it is working,” said Greens’ gambling spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale.

“I’m very happy to hear Tony Windsor indicating his support for a policy of $1 bets. With Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie already behind it, cross-bench support is gaining momentum.

“Two weeks ago it was difficult to see a clear pathway forward for pokies reform but the Greens proposal has been a game changer.

Greens’ gambling spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, has called the Coalition discussion paper on problem gambling a hollow, shallow, meaningless document.

“It looks like it’s been written by the pokies industry for the pokies industry. It’s weak on pokies and tough on their competitors, such as online gambling.

“It’s not a surprise to anyone that Mr. Abbott has found yet another industry lobby group to shill for if it gives him another reason to attack the government.

Support for the Greens’ $1 bet pokies policy is growing and gaining momentum said Greens’ gambling spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale.

“I was pleased to hear Andrew Wilkie publicly confirm yesterday that he would support a shift away from mandatory pre-commitment and towards the Greens policy of $1 bet limits.

“He is the most recent of several independent MPs to flag their potential support for the Greens position, which is now clearly growing in momentum and offering a clear pathway for meaningful reform.

Greens’ spokesperson for gambling, Senator Richard Di Natale, today called on the Opposition Leader to be constructive on pokies reform and support the Greens’ $1 bet policy.

“Mr. Abbott and the Coalition have a history of being relentlessly negative and acting as a wrecking ball to reform,” said Senator Di Natale.

“They tried to block real action on climate change, they tried to block plans to share the profits of the mining boom, they’re trying to block tobacco reform that would save lives and now they are threatening to block meaningful pokies reform.

Greens’ gambling spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, said today that yet another claim by Clubs Australia has been demolished.

“Clubs Australia have been caught out playing fast and loose with the truth about the cost of pokies reform,” said Senator Di Natale.

Within hours of the Greens announcing their policy of $1 bet limits on pokies, Clubs Australia claimed that it would cost $3 billion to implement.