MEDIA RELEASE

 

  NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

 

28 February 2005

 

SHOW ME THE MONEY II 

·            Premier, Minister contradict each other over Gamblers Rehabilitation funding.

 

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon has asked questions in Parliament this afternoon over apparently inconsistent statements made by the Premier Mike Rann and Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill over Gamblers Rehabilitation funding.  He also says he fears for the safety and welfare of problem gamblers and their families over the delays in the urgently needed funding.

The story so far:

●          During the pokies debate in Parliament last December, Mr Xenophon successfully moved an amendment (with the support of the Opposition and cross-benchers) to massively increase Gambler’s Rehabilitation funding. A compromise reached in the Lower House saw funding virtually doubled with an extra $2 million per annum – to be applied on a pro rata basis - for this financial year.

●           On 1 February 2005 a media release from the Premier trumpeted:

            “From today, the State Government’s extra $2 million payment to the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund kicks in.”

●          Information obtained from gambling rehabilitation providers that none of the extra funding has yet flown through.

·           Following Mr Xenophon’s media release on the 22nd February 2005 (Show me the Money!) Minister Jay Weatherill’s office issued a statement that the money would be made available after a review of Gamblers Rehabilitation Services is completed.   That review – to be carried out by the Independent Gambling Authority - was initiated by Parliament last December, and is due to be completed by 9th June 2005.  At no stage did the Government link the additional funding to the review being completed.

 

“The Minister and the Premier are clearly contradicting each other over this additional funding.  This shows a shallowness to the Government’s commitment in providing the urgently needed additional funds for this major social problem.”

“The Premier should overrule his Minister and promise that the additional funding that he promised would kick in from 1st February 2005 is made available immediately.  If he doesn’t South Australians will know that the trumpet he was blowing on the 1st of February was nothing more than an air trumpet.”

 

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