AMENDMENTS TO GAMING CONTROL ACT MUST BE TAKEN TO PARLIAMENT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today succeeded in getting Treasurer Michael Aird to commit to bringing amendments to the Gaming Control Act 1993 into the Parliament before it rises for Christmas, but warned that these changes may not be enough to deal with the problem gambling issues caused specifically by poker machines, and that the Treasurer must also be prepared to alter the Deed of Arrangement with Federal Hotels regarding these insidious machines.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the Greens believe the rise in losses on poker machines in Tasmania, from $213 million for the 2007/08 financial year to $224 million for the 2008/09 year, despite the drop in machine and venue numbers between those years, indicate that unless pokies are removed from the community the losses will continue to escalate.

Mr Booth also said that the recent Productivity Commission report into Gambling in Australia identified poker machines as the most harmful form of gambling by far.

“The Gaming Commission’s Annual Report 2008-09 was tabled yesterday and states that while some measures have been implemented, ‘a number of further measures cannot commence until changes are made to the Gaming Control Act 1993,’ and the Greens have now succeeded in obtaining a commitment from the Treasurer to bring these amendments into the Parliament before Christmas,” said Mr Booth.

“It is heartening that the Treasurer is prepared to alter the Gaming Control Act 1993 in order to bring in further measures to protect problem gamblers, but given that the most dangerous and harmful form of gambling is pokies, the Greens believe that the Treasurer must also be prepared to alter the Deed of Arrangement with Federal Hotels.”

“Mr Aird has admitted that he could alter the Deed of Agreement with Federal Hotels via legislation if required, so what is actually stopping the Treasurer and his government from doing everything in their power to assist problem gamblers hooked on poker machines?”

“Problem gambling leads to financial ruin, fraud, bankruptcy, mental illness, relationship breakdown and, in extreme cases, suicides. It is known that the ill-effects of this curse ripple through our society, and that the lives of between five and ten people are adversely affected by each problem gambler. We must do everything possible to help people suffering from this affliction, and if that includes altering Deeds of Agreement, upsetting affluent private companies, or making legislative changes, then so be it,” said Mr Booth.
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming Spokesperson