A day in the life of Andrew Wilkie, aspiring MP

Today Andrew launched the flagship of his campaign – his Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Plan, which he argues should be implemented during the next term of Parliament.
This plan is designed to bridge the gap between the current situation and the removal of all pokies when the monopoly contract expires in 2018.

The need for such a plan was brought home at a media conference today when Steve told his story. A poker machine user for 30 years, and an addict for much of that time, Steve estimates he has lost around $500,000 on the pokies. Because of the pokies he has also lost a son, has been to jail, has missed opportunities for employment and compounding it all has other addictions that he continues to fight.

Steve is quick to state that he is no victim. He is reflective about his behaviour and knows it is ultimately he who must take responsibility for his life. However he knows enough about pokies and the way they work to know that, for addicts at least, the only solution is to rid society of them. Like an alcoholic who will always sniff out that hidden drink, ‘band aid’ solutions like self-exclusion policies, reduced operating hours and lower bet limits will not help a pokies addict.

That’s why Andrew’s ultimate policy is to eliminate all poker machines from Tasmania. Steve stands by this policy and urges all politicians and candidates to embrace it too, to save the lives – figuratively and literally – of hundreds of Tasmanian addicts and the thousands more whose lives are also harmed by people addicted to the pokies.

Picture: Of Steve