And Still Labor Just Tinkers Around the Edge
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that the Bartlett Government take action to remove pokies from the community after revealing that the latest Tasmanian Gaming Commission (TGC) figures show that Tasmanians lost $17 685 447 on pokies during the month of September, up by $335 876 for the same period in 2008.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said Tasmanians have lost an enormous $165 594 846 on poker machines so far in 2009 alone, and that money has now been forever removed from the pockets of Tasmanian families, and subsequently from the cash registers of their local businesses.

Mr Booth also said that these figures come hot on the heals of yet further reports of people in court facing charges relating to actions undertaken to feed the individual’s gambling and pokie addiction, and that this serious social disruption should not just be brushed aside.

“These September figures show that over $17 million was lost in just one month, which is an awful indictment on the Bartlett Government which just doesn’t seem to care about the ramifications of its own poker machine addiction,” Mr Booth said.

“This takes the total amount lost on pokies for 2009 alone to the staggering amount of $165 594 846.”

“We cannot afford for just more tinkering around the edges, as the Treasurer is relying upon, decisive action must be taken to remove these machines from the community.”

“The Bartlett Government is well aware of the damage that is done to Tasmanians and their families by pokies, but they are not prepared to wean themselves from the revenue that these machines.”

“If the current pokies loss rate continues, Tasmania will be looking at a loss of over $220 million for the 2009 year. That is $220 million which should have been spent paying for roofs over heads, food, electricity, clothing, and education for the family, but which is instead being lost to the community forever.”

“Just how many more social club treasurers, small business secretaries, trusted public servants, mothers, fathers, brothers, or sisters, must be jailed as a result of fraud committed to feed their pokies addictions, before the Bartlett Government will finally begin to roll them back out of our suburban pubs and clubs?”

Tasmanian Gaming Commission link:
http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/
dtf/dtf.nsf/alls-v/CD36BFC11D136484CA2575E10006E703
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming spokesperson