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