NSW Labor Commits to Enhanced Gambling Reform Amid Growing Coalition Support

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is set to adopt a more stringent approach to regulating poker machines, following pressure from the party’s left faction. A motion expected to pass the NSW Labor conference with unanimous support will advance a policy to “decisively address” problem gambling and the proliferation of poker machines, aligning with rising operator profits and mounting criticism over the government’s previous inaction.

The motion, outlined in documents reviewed by Guardian Australia, proposes a moratorium on new machine licenses, increased taxation for clubs with over $20 million in machine revenues, and a 50% reduction in gaming machines across the state within a decade. Additionally, it mandates facial recognition technology in all gaming venues to facilitate a centralized exclusion register, a measure the government is reportedly already developing.

According to Labor insiders, the Minns government, while not directly endorsing the motion, has engaged in negotiations and acknowledges the growing grassroots momentum driven by Darcy Byrne, the mayor of Sydney’s inner west and prominent Labor left figure. The proposal was crafted through collaboration between left faction members and Mark Morey, secretary of the right-aligned Unions NSW.

Byrne emphasized that “momentum for real reform of poker machine harm is becoming unstoppable,” calling for urgent action to address the “scourge” of gambling, which has impacted countless lives. The initiative seeks to project party unity ahead of the March state election, as Labor navigates internal divisions and broader public scrutiny.

The reform push coincides with contentious debates within the conference itself. The left briefly disrupted proceedings by attempting to prioritize motions advocating for the repeal of protest laws, which were ultimately rejected by the right-controlled delegates. Critics argued that this maneuver aimed to suppress dissent, while union leaders defended their right to protest as essential to achieving policy changes.

During Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address, protests over Palestine and the Aukus military agreement erupted, underscoring tensions within the party platform. Despite these distractions, the NSW policy agenda prioritizes gambling reform, including calls to lobby the federal government toward banning gambling inducements—a recommendation from the late Labor MP Peta Murphy’s inquiry into online gambling harms.

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