MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

7 October 2005

MINISTERS SHOULD ‘BAN’ TOGETHER ON POKIES ATMs

 ·       Call for Federal and State Ministers to stop passing the buck on ATMs

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon has accused State and Federal Gambling Ministers of being involved in a “pathetic game of buck passing” over ATMs in pokies venues, which will be discussed at today’s Ministerial Council on Gambling to be held in Melbourne .

“The fact is that this issue has been on the agenda for many months, but it seems that the Ministers are incapable of taking a decisive step that would make a big difference in reducing problem gambling.”

Mr Xenophon renewed his calls for a total ban on ATMs at pokies venues and called on the Government to support a Bill that he introduced to this effect, which is currently before the Parliament. He described State Gambling Minister Michael Wright’s “chest thumping” over having a $200 per day limit on withdrawals from ATMs in pokies venues a “cop out and he should know that.”

“The State has the power here and now to totally ban ATM’s from pokies venues, and by doing so remove a significant factor that fuels gambling addiction.”

Mr Xenophon pointed to Productivity Commission findings that an overwhelming majority of problem gamblers use ATMs at pokies venues to fuel their gambling addiction, whereas non problem gamblers never or rarely use an ATM at a venue (the Productivity Commission findings are reproduced below).

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075