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Ref:12/2003
7 August, 2003
Cut
Pokies Call Supported
- Commonwealth Must Act Too
Adelaide Central Mission agrees with the Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello in his call for an Australia wide reduction in the number of Poker Machines.
“We also agree that there is strong evidence that a large percentage of gambling revenue comes from people with significant gambling problems and that this causes major pain for families throughout the community” said Mark Henley from Adelaide Central Mission.
The Mission has put considerable faith in the SA Inquiry into Gaming Machine Numbers that is being conducted by the Independent Gambling Authority (IGA). The Mission has submitted that the number of venues is significant in encouraging problem gambling. Therefore the Mission has proposed that poker machines be limited to the Casino and Licensed Clubs only, giving 80 venues in the State. “We are very satisfied with the thoroughness of the work of the IGA and eagerly await their advice to Government on poker machine numbers in South Australia”, Mr Henley explained.
Adelaide Central Mission believes that the Federal Government has significant responsibilities regarding gambling regulation and programs and calls on Mr Costello and the rest of the Federal Ministry to act on gambling, starting with the following measures:
- Establish national gambling industry standards and Codes of Practice
- Establish national gaming machine design standards, for example to regulate ‘reel spin’ times to a minimum of 10 seconds, produce screens with regular warnings etc.
- Act on legislation to enforce the current weak ban on Internet and Interactive Sports gambling
- Regulate finance industry to exclude ATM’s from gambling sites
- Call regular (at least every 6 Months) meetings of the national gambling reference group (appointed by Minister Vanstone)
- Follow through on plans to implement a national responsible gambling awareness week
- Review general
purpose payments to the States to reduce State reliance on gambling
revenue
| For Further Comment | |||
| Mark
Henley Senior Policy Officer |
(08)
8202 5135 0404 067 011 (mob) |
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