Pokies forum highlights impacts

The Tasmanian Greens today congratulated People Before Pokies, who organised the successful public forum held in Wynyard last night, providing over 50 locals the opportunity to cross examine federal election candidates on their pokies policies.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul O’Halloran MP, said that all political parties recognised the huge negative toll that pokies take on communities, families and economies, and should support stronger harm minimisation measures such as a $1 bet limit.

“Over 50 people turned up last night to hear how each candidate or their party would approach the negative impact that pokies was having on their community, including some local councillors,” said Mr O’Halloran.

“Disappointingly, Brett Whiteley, Liberal candidate for the House of Representatives, failed to show up at the forum, which is especially notable since Mr Whiteley moved an amendment in State Parliament in 2009 to introduce $1 bet limits. A position the Liberals have since backflipped on.”

“The forum heard concerns about the concentration of pokies in municipalities and the whopping $450, 000 lost each month in the Waratah-Wynyard region over the last twelve months.”

“The Waratah-Wynyard municipality, where last night’s public forum was held, lost an enormous $5, 478 000 to pokies over the past year. Imagine if this money was instead spent at locals businesses.”

“There was also overwhelming support for a state-based $1 bet limit to be introduced.”

“Current maximum bet limits in Tasmania of $5 and $10 make it possible for a gambler to lose $500 – $1200 per hour of play. A $1 bet limit would reduce this loss rate to around $120.”

“Data shows that Braddon as an electorate has the highest rates of loss per capita than anywhere else in Tasmania and one of the highest rates in the nation,” Mr O’Halloran said.

The Greens were represented at the People Before Pokies forum by Braddon House of Representatives candidate Melissa Houghton and Senate candidate Helen Burnet. While the Tasmanian Liberals did not send a representative, the ALP was represented by Senator Urquhart.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon