Wilkie pulls support for Gillard government

21 Jan 2012, 3:27 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Anti-pokies MP Andrew Wilkie has ripped up his agreement to support the Gillard minority government after the Prime Minister broke her promise on gambling reforms.

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Anti-pokies MP Andrew Wilkie has ripped up his agreement to support the Gillard minority government after he said the prime minister had broken her promise on gambling reforms.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Saturday a watered down plan to tackle problem gambling, which would include a trial in the ACT of mandatory pre-commitment technology.

This backs away from a deal struck with Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie to legislate the reforms by May and roll out the technology by 2014.

Mr Wilkie said he can no longer guarantee supply and confidence for the government because the prime minister reneged on their deal.

"I will only support motions of no confidence in the event of serious misconduct and not support politically opportunistic motions. I will consider budget measures on their merits," Mr Wilkie said.

"I regard the prime minister to be in breach of the written agreement she signed, leaving me no option but to honour my word and end my current relationship with her government."

Mr Wilkie said the government had failed to seize the opportunity for meaningful pokie reforms.

"The government's explanation that it doesn't have the numbers is simply wrong," he said.

"The legislation should be debated in the parliament and tested on the floor of the House."

He said he won't give up on pushing for pre-commitment technology and $1 bet limits.

Mr Wilkie told reporters in Hobart the back down went right to the issue of trust.

"We should be able to trust our politicians to keep their word," he said.

"Frankly a deal is a deal."

Mr Wilkie said he hoped to retain a good working relationship with the Gillard government.

He said he would support the government's new plan even though it does not go far enough.

The compromise pokie reform package was shown to him last Sunday in Hobart and was exactly what Ms Gillard announced on Saturday, Mr Wilkie said.

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