MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  

4th May 2004

MOVE TO MAKE POKIES CUTS MORE EFFECTIVE

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon will team up with Greens MP Kris Hanna to move amendments to strengthen the Government’s Bill to reduce the number of pokies by 3000.

Mr Xenophon and Mr Hanna will both move amendments in each House of Parliament that aim to:

· Remove ATM’s and change machines from pokies venues altogether. (The 1999 Productivity Commission Report into Australia’s Gambling Industries found that 78.2% of non-problem pokies players “never” used an ATM at a venue when playing pokies compared to a staggering 58.7% of severe problem gamblers who “often” or “always”  used ATMs when playing the pokies).

· Ban smoking from pokies rooms immediately – to follow the lead of the Bracks Government in September 2002. Secret research commissioned by gambling giant Tattersalls shows a link between heavy smoking and problem gambling, and cutting the link in Victoria has led to a 10% reduction in pokies losses (especially among problem gamblers).

· Slowing the rate of play of machines by 90% - including minimising the number of multi-line bets. Losses on Australian poker machines can reach over $730 an hour compared to $130 an hour on UK pokies (As quoted in Tim Costello ’s book, “Wanna Bet?”, 2000).

· Improving appeal mechanisms to give communities and individuals the right to object to new machines coming onto the market.

· Eliminating loyalty cards and schemes at pokies venues.

· Strengthening intervention programs.

The thrust of the reforms will be supported by Welfare groups including Wesley Uniting Care and its spokesperson Mark Henley .