By Richard Willingham and Kirsty Needham
A RIFT between two key independent MPs over tougher poker machine regulations is threatening to undermine the stability of
the Gillard government.
New South Wales MP Tony Windsor says he may vote against fellow independent Andrew Wilkie's pokie laws push because of the financial blow it would deliver to rural clubs.
Mr Wilkie, from Tasmania, is pressing for legislation limiting bets and losses in poker machine venues from 2014.
If it fails to pass both houses of Parliament by the 2012 budget, Mr Wilkie will withdraw his vital support for the fragile government.
For the legislation to pass, he needs the support of the government and three other crossbenchers: Mr Windsor, Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Crook and Adam Bandt.
Under Mr Wilkie's deal, the federal government has until next month to get the agreement of the states to reform poker machine legislation. Otherwise, the federal government must override the states using Commonwealth legislation, which must be passed by May next year.
Mr Wilkie has said it must be a mandatory scheme, and is likely to involve all players registering for a smartcard with self-imposed spending limits.
But Mr Windsor said yesterday the proposal could destroy rural community clubs, which would not survive the cost of installing technology required by the proposal.
Mr Katter, a Queensland independent, also raised the prospect of not supporting the proposed legislation, despite supporting gambling reform.
''It may go so far as to create real problems, unfortunately, for the survival of what may be very necessary services in some communities,'' he said, ''so we may have to fight very hard for amendments.''
Greens MP Adam Bandt, who successfully opposed new pokies in his Melbourne electorate, said he was supportive of Mr Wilkie's reform process but was reserving his decision until the full plan was revealed.
Non-aligned WA National Tony Crook said he had yet to give it major consideration.
Mr Windsor said he had not seen any evidence to show that Mr Wilkie's proposal would work, and was troubled it did not tackle the growth of sports betting on television, which he said encouraged children to gamble.
''If you lock a gambler out of a club, is that going to stop him going to the races or just going and watching TV and betting, or getting online and doing it in the privacy of his own bathroom?'' Mr Windsor told The Saturday Age.
''What he's been talking about is a very, very expensive operation.
''Everybody would like something done about problem gambling, but I haven't seen any proof that this would achieve that.''
Mr Wilkie, who on Tuesday said he was confident he had the numbers for the scheme to pass, said he remained positive.
A spokeswoman for Families Minister Jenny Macklin said the federal government was still working towards getting the agreement of the states, which would avoid the need for federal legislation.
The Victorian and New South Wales governments have previously indicated they will not support mandatory controls and want a voluntary system instead.