MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  

25^th June 2004

REVEALED: MR HOWARD’S $600 PER CHILD BONUS A WINDFALL FOR POKIES BARONS

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES AND STRAIGHT DOWN THE THROATS OF POKER MACHINES

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon has obtained official figures which confirm a huge spike in pokies losses since the Federal Government started sending out the $600 per child bonus late last week.

The figures, from the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, show a jump of almost 18% in pokies losses compared to the same period last year. Allowing for an annual growth in pokies losses of 8%, the jump is in the order of 10%.

A pokies industry insider who contacted Mr Xenophon last night disclosed the jump has been much greater in some areas (northern and southern suburbs) with a heavier concentration of young families compared to other suburbs with an ‘older’ demographic – with some venues reporting record business, with a near doubling of daily turnover figures.

The insider told Mr Xenophon he was “nauseated that money meant for kids was going into the pokies”.

Mr Xenophon said that information received from another hotel employee this morning confirmed that the hotel she worked at did the “best takings” ever and the employee was “furious” as the $600 was “supposed to help with the kids”.

Mr Xenophon said “We now have official conformation of the consequences of Mr Howard’s irresponsible and reckless vote-buying splurge. Thanks to Mr Howard millions of dollars are being taken out of the mouths of babes and going straight down the throats of poker machines”.