The Tasmanian Greens today said community anger over the continuing harm from pokies would be on show in Launceston tomorrow night, as the latest monthly pokies loss figures told another story of tragedy for addicts and their families.
Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP, who is hosting the forum at the Launceston Northern Club, said it was timely ahead of a Greens-led debate in the House of Assembly on a $1 per spin bet limit for poker machines in Tasmania.
“The latest Treasury pokies loss figures released at the start of the month show Tasmanian gamblers lost more than $30 million in February this year and nearly $200 million in the past year,” Mr Booth said.
“These staggering losses require action from political parties of all persuasions.”
“To stand by and watch families lose their income through what is effectively legislated robbery is amoral and utterly unacceptable.”
“I will soon be bringing on for debate and vote the Greens’ Gaming Control Amendment Bill, which will legislate to limit bets to one dollar per spin.”
“The Greens are calling on the Liberal and Labor parties to support this proven harm minimisation strategy, which is estimated to save Tasmanian gamblers around $350 million over four years.”
“Although this will not remove the scourge of pokies, it is the very least we can collectively do as we work toward an end to poker machines in Tasmania.”
“We invite all members from the community and political persuasions to stand with pokies victims and to make their voice heard at the forum.”
[1] The forum will be held on Thursday the 4th April 2013 at the Launceston Northern Club, 61 Cameron St, at 6p.m. Panellists: Mark Zinsark (Uniting Church of Australia), Wynne Russell (TASCOSS), Kim Booth MP (Tasmanian Greens’ Gaming spokesperson) and Helen Burnet (Put People Before Pokies, Here).
[2] Tasmanian Gaming Commission figures for Electronic Gaming Machine Expenditure by Rolling Year:
http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/alls-v/CD36BFC11D136484CA2575E10006E703
