The Victorian Greens are calling on the Victorian Labor Government to stand up to Crown and the gambling industry following reports they may not introduce gambling harm minimisation measures recommended by the Royal Commission.
The Royal Commission into Crown Casino recommended introducing mandatory pre-commitment limits on the amount of money and time people could spend using Crown's poker machines.
However, despite agreeing to the Royal Commission's recommendations "in principle" last year, new reports have suggested the Government may be reconsidering their position.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said it was outrageous that despite the damning findings that came to light during the investigation into Crown, Labor still couldn't stand up to their donor mates in the gambling industry.
She said the Government were cowards for backing down at the first hurdle and that without adequate harm minimisation measures many in the Victorian community would continue to fall prey to the harms caused by the gambling industry.
In 2021 the Greens launched a plan for a Melbourne Casino that would enforce strict rules and harm reduction measures for the casino and prevent the casino operator - whether Crown or otherwise - from growing its political influence at the expense of the Victorian community.
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:
"Once again we see that what Crown asks for, the Victorian Labor Government delivers.
"After the damning Royal Commission into Crown, Labor asked us to give it a second chance, and now they're backing down at the first hurdle. They just won't stand up to their donor mates.
"The Greens aren't scared of the gambling lobby and we won't stop pushing this Government for mandatory pre-commitments and dollar bets.
"Because unlike Labor, we aren't in the pockets of this billionaire industry.
