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MEDIA RELEASE
NICK XENOPHON M.L.C. INDEPENDENT
NO POKIES MEMBER
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
5 July 2005
GOVT PLAYS DUMB OVER POKIES SMART-CARDS ·
No
Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon is “furious” that the State Government has dismissed out of hand
recommendations of the Independent Gambling Authority to implement smart-card
technology for the State’s almost 16,000 poker machines (including machines in
the Casino). Mr
Xenophon, with the support of the Opposition and Crossbench MPs, successfully
moved an amendment to last year’s pokies legislation to require the IGA to
provide a report on “how smart-card technology might be implemented with a view to significantly
reducing problem gambling”. The
Authority’s report, tabled in Parliament today, recommended sweeping changes
to the State’s multi- billion dollar pokies industry by introducing smart-card
technology – the first scheme of its type anywhere in the world. The
Authority recommended that legislation should be introduced into Parliament for
the implementation of a mandatory system that would enable the tracking
of a person’s play, the setting of limits and exclusion of play. Mr
Xenophon said that the Government’s excuses to spurn the recommendations,
through the statement made in Parliament by Gambling Minister, Michael Wright,
were “pathetic”. “The
Government hides behind the excuse that the costs of a smart-card scheme are ‘unknown
and the benefits are unproven’.
What is ‘known’ and ‘proven’ is that over 23,000 South Australian
have a pokies problem with each affecting the lives of 7 others and that over
40% of pokies losses come from problem gamblers.” “The
Minister’s excuses fly in the face of the IGA stating that the technical
capability to support smart-cards exist, and is commercially feasible.” Mr Xenophon vowed to introduce legislation in the spring session of Parliament
to implement the Independent Gambling Authority’s recommendations.
He challenged the Government (and Opposition) to give its MPs a
conscience vote on this issue.
Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075 |