O'Farrell fails to address problem gambling: large club donations to blame?

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell to stop taking money from the clubs movement to avoid the perception that his party's policies on gambling will be skewed by political donations (page 5, Sydney Morning Herald today).

"Mr O'Farrell's submission to the federal gambling inquiry, which promotes clubs and ignores problem gambling, suggests that the clubs movement has his ear," Ms Rhiannon said.

The Greens www.democracy4sale.org project shows that in the lead up to the 2007 election the clubs movement donated more than $460,000 to the Coalition. Data just out from the NSW Election Funding Authority reveals clubs have donated more than $120,000 to the Coalition since that time (April 2007 - December 2008).

"The clubs movement is obviously grooming Mr O'Farrell, looking for an opportunity to loosen restrictions on gambling.

"Mr O'Farrell has stated he supports banning political donations. Surely it's time for the Coalition to stop taking donations from clubs and pubs to run its election campaign.

"If he wins government Mr O'Farrell should develop policies to reduce problem gambling not boost the earnings of the club movement by reducing poker machine taxes.

"The Opposition will be failing problem gamblers and their families if it sides with clubs and pubs rather than implementing new policies to reduce the crippling impact of gambling on individuals and communities," Ms Rhiannon said.