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MEDIA RELEASE
NICK XENOPHON M.L.C. INDEPENDENT
NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH LESS THAN 1 CENT IN EVERY DOLLAR OF POKIES TAXES GOING TO
FUND GAMBLER’S
REHABILITATION: BREAKTHROUGH AMENDMENT TO GIVE HOPE TO THOUSANDS HURT BY POKIES ·
And move for
Pokies Smartcards could also slash addiction.
Current
levels of funding for gamblers’ rehabilitation could rise dramatically if
amendments passed in the Upper House this week are agreed to by the Government.
An
amendment moved by No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon to increase the Government’s
Gambler’s Rehabilitation funding from $2.2 million to 3% of pokies taxes (over
$9 million) was passed in the Upper House with the support of the Liberal
Opposition and cross-benchers. “If you can’t get
rid of all pokies in “The
Government is projected to rake in at least $302 million in pokies taxes this
year, yet it contributes a pittance to rehabilitation services. It is a disgrace that
individuals desperate for help have had to wait weeks and quite often months to
receive face-to-face counselling and treatment. Country areas like Coober Pedy,
which is at crisis point with its gambling problems, don’t even have access to
such services anymore”.
Another
of Mr Xenophon’s amendments, passed with the support of all non-government MPs,
requires the Independent Gambling Authority to report to the Parliament within
six months on the use of ‘Smartcard’ technology to significantly
reduce problem gambling.
The
amendments to the legislation to cut pokies numbers by 3000 will now need to be
considered by the Government before Parliament resumes on Monday week.
Written
and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075
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