Pokies: where’s the detail?

Will Hodgman
The Government’s belated action to address some of the issues surrounding problem gambling is welcome, but more details on how these initiatives will be implemented on the ground is needed, Leader of the State Opposition Will Hodgman said today.
Kim Booth
The Tasmanian Greens today described as ‘ad hoc, minimalist and lacking detail’ the measures announced by the Treasurer, Michael Aird, today in response to the Tasmanian Gaming Commission’s review of the 2008 SACES Social and Economic Impact Study into Gambling in Tasmania.

Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the State Opposition
Friday March 20, 2009

More detail required on Labor’s approach to problem gambling

The Government’s belated action to address some of the issues surrounding problem gambling is welcome, but more details on how these initiatives will be implemented on the ground is needed, Leader of the State Opposition Will Hodgman said today.

“For months we have been calling for State Labor to act on the recommendations of the Tasmanian Gaming Commission, but they have been sitting on their hands, so today’s announcement is cautiously welcomed,” Mr Hodgman said.

However, the Tasmanian Gaming Commission has clearly said that any regulation of gaming machines needs to be comprehensive, not selective, and the Government must provide greater detail before it can be established whether this will be achieved by Labor’s reforms.

“The steps announced today are a start and we look forward to assessing these reforms in more detail.”

Mr Hodgman said there is significant degree of concern in the community about issues associated with problem gaming and it was about time the Government started seriously addressing these concerns.

W: www.willhodgman.com.au

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AIRD’S GAMING MEASURES TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
Fails To Roll Pokies Back Out of Clubs & Pubs
Kim Booth MP
Greens Gaming spokesperson
Friday, 20 March 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today described as ‘ad hoc, minimalist and lacking detail’ the measures announced by the Treasurer, Michael Aird, today in response to the Tasmanian Gaming Commission’s review of the 2008 SACES Social and Economic Impact Study into Gambling in Tasmania.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP accused the Bartlett Labor government of irresponsibility and of missing a prime opportunity to finally implement a cohesive strategy to address the negative impact of pokie machines in pubs and clubs and reiterated the Greens’ call that the be rolled back out of the community.

“The ad hoc and minimalist measures announced by Treasurer Aird risk being too little too late, as on one hand the introduction of these initiatives is a belated recognition that there are problems, while on the other hand it again demonstrates Labor’s refusal to address the main cause of the problem which is the intrusion of pokies through pubs and clubs,” Mr Booth said.

“The initiatives announced today could be a step in the right direction when mitigating the negative impacts of gaming but more detail is needed, and of course they would have greater effect if they were part of a cohesive strategy that addressed the negative impacts of pokies.”

“These machines locusts gobbling up the money that should be providing food on the table for struggling families, and last year’s impact study showed that the main source of problem gaming is related to pokies in pubs, clubs and casinos, yet the Treasurer failed to deal with them in this announcement.”

“Until Labor weans itself from it addiction to pokies revenue, the Tasmanian community will continue to suffer from the negative impacts of gaming, as it is apparent that the Bartlett government is only prepared to tinker around the edges rather than commit to doing anything decisive.”

Mr Booth was also very critical of the time taken by the Treasurer to announce these initiatives.

“The SACES report was handed to the government in July last year, the Tasmanian Gaming Commission’s Report in response is dated October 2008, and yet some five months later this is the best the Bartlett government is prepared to do.”

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