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Ref:12/2002
28
June, 2002
Review of Pokies Freeze Supported
Adelaide Central Mission has welcomed
the Minister for Gambling’s announcement of a review of the current
freeze on the number of poker machines in South Australia.
“We
are particularly pleased by four aspects of the terms of reference
that we believe reflect widespread community concern” said Mark Henley,
Manager of Advocacy and Communications for Adelaide Central Mission.
These
four aspects of high relevance are:
- Strategies
to Minimise Gambling Related Harm. This
role is given as the first element of the Terms of Reference
which the Mission understands means that reducing harm is the
priority task of the review.
- Focus
on Gaming Machine Turnover. This
reflects an important understanding, specifically that limiting
the number of gaming machines does not necessarily mean a reduction
in turn over and gambling related harm. For “caps” or “freezes” to
be effective, it is turnover that needs to be limited.
- Options
for Reducing the Number of Machines. The
IGA is instructed to consider, amongst other issues, options
to reduce the number of machines. This
is significant for the implication that Government understands
that an actual reduction in the number of gaming machines needs
to be considered, an important development of the “pokies debate.”
- Wide
Consultation. The
Authority has indicated that it will consult widely with Industry,
welfare organizations and the public to help inform it’s advice
to government.
“The announcement of this review, nearly 12 months before parliament needs to vote on the freeze, is very important in both enabling public debate and in enabling the parliament to be well informed on a range of options. This increases the likelihood of constructive outcomes,” Mr Henley concluded.
| For Further Comment | |||
| Mark Henley Senior Policy Officer |
8202 5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob) |
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