Community Damage Grows Every Month

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that after losing more than $220 million on poker machines in 2009, Tasmanians kicked off 2010 with a loss of $17,798,041 during January.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP reiterated the Greens’ policy to rid Tasmania of the economic scourge of poker machines within five years, and accused the Bartlett Government of failing in its duty of care to the community over the serious financial and emotional damage wrought by poker machines.

“Another $17.8 million was siphoned out of the pockets of Tasmanian poker machine players and addicts during January 2010, and the Greens are calling on the Bartlett Government to heed the known damage being caused by pokies, and remove these economic parasites from our community,” said Kim Booth.

“Tasmanians lost more than $220 million in 2009 and unless positive action is taken we are headed towards a similar loss for 2010.”

“The Productivity Commission has revealed that up to 40 percent of poker machine profits come from problem gamblers who are addicted to these machines, and that each problem gambler negatively affects between five and 10 other people.”

“Problem gamblers regularly end up facing financial ruin, relationship breakdown, loss of career, prison, and even suicide – this is a serious issue, with serious consequences for the victims and their families.”

“The Greens are the only party in Tasmania who have a policy to rid the community of poker machines, in a well thought out five-year removal process that provides for adaptation for affected venues to provide for better social inclusion for their patrons, without them losing their life’s savings or indeed, tragically, sometimes their lives.”

“Tasmania cannot afford to throw away millions of dollars every month on poker machines, or the social damage that addiction to pokies is causing, and the Greens are calling on the Bartlett Government to live up to its duty of care to Tasmanians and match the Greens commitment to remove these machines from our community,” said Mr Booth.

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Reference: “Greens Commit to a Pokie-Free Tasmania,” Greens Leader Nick McKim MP and Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP, 4 February 2010, http://mps.tas.greens.org.au/2010/02/greens-commit-to-a-pokie-free-tasmania/
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming spokesperson