The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, said today he’s very disappointed with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s complete lack of understanding of the poker machine issue and his assertion he’d rescind the Government’s reforms if he becomes Prime Minister.
“This is a very disappointing exhibition by Australia’s alternative Prime Minister. Mr Abbott is showing no respect for the hundreds of thousands of Australians touched by poker machine problem gambling, no respect for the Productivity Commission, and no respect for the Australian community who support genuine poker machine reform,” Mr Wilkie said.
“Mr Abbott fails to understand that 95,000 Australian problem gamblers lose some $5 billion each year on the pokies.”
“Mr Abbott fails to understand that the implementation of mandatory pre-commitment on high intensity poker machines is a recommendation of the Productivity Commission.”
“Mr Abbott fails to understand that evidence out of Norway recently strongly supports the merit of mandatory pre-commitment.”
“Mr Abbott fails to understand the implementation of $1 maximum bet machines outside of pre-commitment will accommodate the 88 per cent of pokies players who gamble $1 or less per spin, and that this is also in line with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations.”
“Mr Abbott fails to understand that poll after poll shows majority public support for these reforms.”
“Mr Abbott fails to understand that the industry strategy of ‘personal responsibility’ has completely and utterly failed. If he rescinds these reforms because he thinks problem gambling is an individual matter that can be dealt with by counselling, will he also rescind seat belt laws because head injury is an individual matter that can be dealt with by surgery?”
Mr Wilkie also said there are now clear divisions within the Coalition on poker machine reform.
“A number of Coalition MPs are concerned with problem gambling on poker machines including Senator Barnaby Joyce,” Mr Wilkie said.
“What Mr Abbott does seem to think is that pandering to a rich industry at their orchestrated events is another way to pursue his political self-interest.”
• Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Assocation: Taming the pokies monster
Every week Neighbourhood Houses and Centres across Australia see hundreds of people whose lives are being ruined by gambling prompting the Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA) to get behind the proposed new gaming laws and to urge every day Australians to show their support.
“With over 1,000 Neighbourhood Centres across Australia we see the real impacts of gambling every day, particularly on vulnerable families who already struggling with many different issues,” said Merial Clark, Executive Officer, ANHCA.
It’s estimated 95,000 Australians are poker machine problem gamblers while a similar number are currently at risk of becoming so. Between five and 10 people are affected by each problem gambler.
“It is distressing to have someone come to you, full of shame, to ask for help to get food for their family because they have gambled every cent they were paid within hours of receiving it,” said Ms Clark.
“Problem gamblers routinely lose everything including their jobs, family and friends, homes, health and sometimes even their lives. Neighbourhood Houses and Centres deal with this suffering every day and ANHCA supports reforms that respect individuals while assisting them not to end up in this situation.
“Each week around 320,000 people participate at a Neighbourhood Centre and we would like to urge as many people as possible to add their voice to the campaign for poker machine reform,” Ms Clark said.
The proposed reforms will let people set limits on their losses before they start gambling and will help vulnerable people to stop gambling before they lose everything.
Poker machine problem gamblers lose almost $5 billion each year, a staggering figure pointing to the scale of the tragedy associated with poker machines. The 88% of Australians who currently gamble $1 or less per spin will have the option of playing the $1 maximum bet machines not needing a card.
The federal parliament is set to pass the necessary laws by May 2012 and poker machine venues will be given until the end of 2014 to comply. Small venues with 15 machines or less will be given until 2018.
• CASINOS LET OFF HOOK BY LIBERALS
Pokies Contribution to CSL Move Defeated
Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Member for Denison
The Tasmanian Greens today said it was very disappointing that their move to have casinos contribute from their pokies take to the Community Support Levy was blocked by both the Liberal and Labor parties.
Greens Member for Denison, Cassy O’Connor MP, said that with the tough budget challenges facing many in the community, this proposal could have injected an additional $3 million to $4 million each year to assist the vulnerable, and build community capacity as well as health and wellbeing outcomes.
Ms O’Connor explained that the current provisions of the Gaming Control Act 1993 require pub and club pokies venues to contribute four per cent of their gross profits to the Community Support Levy but the monopoly holder the Federal Group is exempt from paying on casino pokies profits.
“This Greens’ proposal was an opportunity for the Liberals to vote with their feet to assist the vulnerable affected by problem gambling, and vote for an extension to an existing levy, but instead they have voted to reject an additional approximate $3 million dollars coming into the Consolidated Fund,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Pubs and clubs with pokies are required by law to contribute four per cent of their pokies take. Neither Labor nor Liberals could mount any logical justification why these same provisions should not apply to the casino’s pokies’ take.”
“The Liberals’ disappointing failure to take this opportunity to have extra millions of dollars injected into the State coffers to assist the vulnerable, exposes their previous calls for changes to the State Budget as shallow politicking.”
“Pokies monopoly holder, the Federal Group, can afford to contribute to the CSL, but once again when it comes to pokies, it is the community who misses out.”
“This disappointing outcome again highlights the issue of the potential influence of the thousands of dollars in political donations received by both parties from Federal Hotels over the years,” Ms O’Connor said.
Text of Greens’ motion defeated by Labor and Liberal voting together:
That this House:
1. Notes provisions of Section 151 of the Gaming Control Act 1993 require that a defined ‘Gaming Operator’ pay an amount equivalent to 4 per cent of gross profit on a monthly basis for the purpose of the Community Support Levy;
2. Notes that the definition of ‘Gaming Operator’ in this context does not include Casinos which have a different licence; and
3. Further, this House agrees to amend the Gaming Control Act 1993 provisions to require that Casinos are treated in the same manner as pubs and clubs, and also contribute 4 per cent of their gross profits into the Community Support Levy, consistent with the requirements imposed on the defined ‘Gaming Operators’.
