The Minns Labor Government have broken an election commitment to introduce third party exclusion and mandatory facial recognition in the latest blow to the community.

Shadow Minister for Hospitality and Gaming Kevin Anderson said today’s announcement that Labor had developed a ‘code of practice’ for industry to ‘voluntarily operate facial recognition technology’ was a huge backflip on their commitment prior to the 2023 election.

“Labor cannot be trusted when it comes to gaming reform in NSW,” Mr Anderson said.

“Two years ago, Chris Minns was talking a big game about implementing mandatory facial recognition in pubs and clubs prior to 30 June 2024, but nearly two years on, they’ve delivered a pamphlet.

“This is despite the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform’s Roadmap to Gaming Reform Report indicating that a set of guidelines for industry were due to be released in mid-June 2024.

“There are real questions as to why it’s taken so long for the government to act on these reforms.

“The industry has been calling for guidance in relation to facial recognition for years, advocates and the community want to see greater harm minimisation measures, but all we get from Labor is delay, after delay, after delay.”

Mr Anderson said the Labor Government have not lived up to their commitments when it comes to gaming reform.

“This is now Labor’s second broken election commitment in the gaming portfolio alone.

“They’ve already walked back on their commitment to buy back 9,500 machines, now they’re walking back on a centrepiece harm minimisation measure promised at the last election, and they still haven’t responded to any of the recommendations made by the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform.

“The Minns Labor Government cannot be trusted on gaming. They have no appetite and no interest in reform.”