Govt must knock back NSW club’s push for more pokies

Read the story.

“The government should honour its own commitment to reduce poker
machine numbers in low-socio economic areas,” Ms Rhiannon said.

"In 2007 the then Gaming and Racing Minister trumpeted the
government's plans to reduce gambling machine numbers in 'high-risk'
areas.

"That policy is now an empty shell. If the government wants to restore
its credibility in this area and do the right thing by people hard hit
by problem gambling they should make it clear that poker machine
numbers will not increase.

“Most of these applications are from suburbs where people are doing it
tough because of the economic downturn and high unemployment rates.

“Clubs at Bourke, Bankstown, Campbelltown and Liverpool have put in
applications.

"NSW needs long terms targets to significantly reduce the number of
poker machines not increase them because clubs cry poor.

“If clubs have genuine problems in funding programs for local
communities the government should step in and assist.

“One of the clubs, located at Liverpool, that has applied to increase
the number of pokies by 40 to 401 is building a $19 million hotel.

“Gambling should be treated as a health issue not a revenue tap.

“Reducing gambling machines is not about stopping people having a good
time it is about preventing the destructive excesses that sometimes
occur.

"Both Labor and the Coalition are weak when it comes to putting limits
on gambling.

“The Greens www.democracy4sale.org project shows that in the lead up
to the 2007 election the clubs movement donated more than  $570,000 to
Labor and more than $410,000 to the Coalition,” Ms Rhiannon.

Contact: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568