MEDIA RELEASE

 

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  

4 March 2004

 

PREMIER’S RESHUFFLE BLUNDER

MR. WRONG

 

·       Appointing the Minister for Racing as Gambling Minister shows the Government isn’t serious about tackling problem gambling.

·       Call on Premier to change ‘dumb and dumberer’ decision.

 

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon has slammed the appointing of Racing Minister Michael Wright as the Minister for Gambling as well, as a “disturbing sign that the Government isn’t serious about tackling problem gambling”.

The Minister for Gambling’s portfolio includes the Independent Gambling Authority – a statutory authority specifically set up to reduce the harm caused by gambling.

Mr Xenophon said:

“I have absolutely nothing against Mr Wright at a personal level.  But this appointment is wrong, wrong, wrong.”

“By having both portfolios Mr Wright faces a clear conflict of interest.  He will in effect have to behave like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.  Part of him is meant to promote a major form of gambling, while at the same time another part is meant to reduce the harm caused by gambling.  It simply doesn’t make sense.”

“The Premier Mr Rann deserves the ‘dumb and dumberer’ award for the most stupefying reshuffle decision.”

Mr Xenophon called on Mr Rann to reconsider the decision immediately so that one Minister would not hold both portfolios.

Mr Xenophon also pointed to the landmark report of the Productivity Commission on Australia’s Gambling Industries released in 1999 which stated that a ‘blueprint for gambling regulation’ needed to be “underpinned by: avoidance of conflicting objectives and interests”.

“On the basis of the Productivity Commission’s own findings, this Government has failed the test dismally”.

 

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075