MEDIA RELEASE

 

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

 

1 February 2005

 

GOVERNMENT’S SPIN ON NEW POKIES LAWS IS A CASE OF:

PREMATURE EXULTATION

 

On the day the Government’s new pokies laws come into place, No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon has challenged the Rann Government to go “much, much further” to tackle problem gambling, and has vowed to introduce further legislation this year aimed at “substantially reducing gambling addiction”.

Mr Xenophon said the legislation passed late last year was a “mixed bag”.

“Whilst I welcome any reduction in the number of pokies, the people of South Australia need to know that Treasury’s own budget forecasts have stated that this measure (of reducing pokies by 3,000) will lead to a reduction of the rate of growth of gambling losses from 5.5% to 5% - big deal.”

“The Government (and most of the Opposition) caved in to the pokies barons by delaying smoking bans in pokies rooms until October 31, 2007 – an immediate ban would have had a much bigger impact in reducing pokies losses and problem gambling.”

In Victoria a smoking ban in pokies venues and the Casino that came into force on September 1, 2002 resulted in a 10 to 15% reduction in pokies losses.

Mr Xenophon said the Parliamentary deal done with the pokies lobby to give 10 year certainty to the industry for pokies numbers and tax levels is “a slap in the face to all those hurt by pokies addiction – many of whom have lost all certainty in their lives – why should the pokies operators be on a sure thing?”

Mr Xenophon said he was “gob-smacked” the Premier was trumpeting the $2 million increase in gamblers rehabilitation funding when the Government strongly opposed his amendment to increase funding for the scheme.

“If it wasn’t for the Libs and cross-benchers in the Upper House supporting my amendment I am convinced this wouldn’t have happened.”

He also said amendments he and non-Government members moved for inquiries on Smart Cards and on gamblers rehab services, and monitoring the effectiveness of the legislation – all opposed by the Government – “have greater potential to reduce problem gambling than anything the Government put up”.

 “So, whilst the Government measures are a small step in the right direction, if Mr Rann is trumpeting this will make a big difference on problem gambling, then I reckon he’s suffering from a case of premature exultation.”

 

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