The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has today (Tues) expressed his disgust that the Australian Parliament overturned the hard-won poker machine reforms.
“The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013, which passed the Senate today, effectively wipes out the modest poker machine reforms passed by the previous Parliament,” Mr Wilkie said.
“It’s clear that Labor and Liberal care much more about the money they receive from the poker machine industry than they do about the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of Australians addicted to poker machines.
“Labor and Liberal receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations from casinos, clubs and pubs. This is corruption of governance on an industrial scale because no business hands over that sort of money without expecting something in return.
“Well didn’t they all hit the jackpot today? The fact is the poker machine industry is unconscionable and the political parties are on the take. Frankly they should all hang their heads in shame.”
The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 reverses the modest Gillard Government gambling reforms. Among other things it abolishes the National Gaming Regulator, removes automatic teller machine withdrawal limits and scraps the requirement for machines to be mandatory pre-commitment capable.
