first its the plastic bags now its atms

Kevin Dudd rides again


Kevin Rudd's plan to break gambling addiction
Article from: Michael Warner

Herald Sun
March 13, 2008 12:00am


AUTOMATIC teller machines may be banned in pokie venues in a new Rudd Government war on problem gambling.

The Prime Minister has also ordered that a review examine a reduction in pokie spin rates and the introduction of smartcard technology to stem surging losses.

The move pits Mr Rudd against premiers, who rely on pokie taxes.

The Victorian Government took more than $1 billion in poker machine taxes last year.

Family and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin, who is heading the review, has already held talks with industry players and critics, including anti-gambling activist the Rev Tim Costello.

It is also believed the Government is considering a push by Mr Costello for the Productivity Commission to renew its 1999 report into Australia's gambling industry.
"The Prime Minister has asked me to investigate ways of tackling problem gambling," Ms Macklin said last night.

"Problem gambling can wreck lives.

"It hurts not only the person with the addiction but the people around them. We are open to exploring ideas about how to tackle this problem."

Experts claim 53c in every $1 lost on Victorian poker machines now comes from the pockets of problem gamblers.

National gaming taxes have surged beyond $4 billion, about 12 per cent of annual state taxes.

Canberra's anti-pokie push could have an immediate effect in Victoria, where the Government is close to announcing who will run the state's $2.5 billion-a-year pokie industry once current licences expire in 2012.

Gambling giants Tattersall's and Tabcorp, which operate the state's 27,500 suburban pokies, are tipped to be awarded 20-year licence extensions in a deal that could reap up to $4 billion in upfront fees.

Mr Rudd's decision to hit the industry is likely to run into problems because of state-based laws and tax systems.

Mr Costello said he believed Mr Rudd was deadly serious about tackling the problem.

"There's been the apology, binge drinking, and a number of other things that Rudd has shown he's moving on. And now I think pokies are on the list," he said.

"He's already said that he hates the pokies. You can't be much stronger than that.

"And without putting words in his mouth, I think he would be very disappointed if the Victorian Government rushed to issue new licences that didn't have certain constraints."

The federal war on pokies will be boosted in July by the arrival of independent senator-elect Nick Xenophon, who made his name in South Australia as an outspoken, no-pokie MP.

Family First senator Steve Fielding has already introduced federal legislation that would see all Australian gaming machines confined to casinos and racetracks.

And Mr Costello said he had also been offered support in the pokies fight by Liberal leader Brendan Nelson.

Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce and the Greens have also expressed concern.

"Suddenly you've got a very different political context that for the first time can stand up to the might of the poker machine industry, with its political donations and its lobbying," Mr Costello said.

This year, Mr Rudd hinted at wanting to remove ATMs from pokie venues.

"Frankly, I think it is wrong that they are there. That's my personal view," he said.

"I do not want to promise the world here, but I know we have a problem. And I know that in partnership with states and territories, we can work through an agreed analysis on the social impact and what to do about it."