We spend more on pokies than we do on petrol, clothes or would you believe, alcohol!
No quite frankly I don't believe that.
According to the BBC report below ~40% of Australians play poker machines [ie. not 1200 out of every 1200] & 2% have a major problem
Just to be clear, it's not 2% of Australians, it's 2% of the 40% of Australians that play pokies. That's if the figures are accurate.
According to a BBC produced programme called "Close Up - Australia’s love for the pokies"
If these stats come from a British TV show I wouldn't be relying on them too much.
As for the crime & violence, I don't remember hearing about any crimes or violence started because of poker machines. Most would be caused by excessive alcohol and testosterone. And loan sharks aren't restricted to pokies or gambling either.
The majority should not have to bend for a tiny minority.
Australians should never be dictated to by a minority, and that is exactly what's happening here, we have a weak government who carries out the dictatorial orders of the Greens and Independents.
And in this case the order of one single man, Andrew Wilkie.
We had a useless tax summit because Gillards weak government carried out the order of one man, Rob Oakeshott.
