OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT
NSW'S GAMBLING ADDICTION NEEDS INTERVENTION
As New South Wales' reliance on gambling revenue continues to increase and donations to political parties by gambling interests continue to increase, the silence of both the Government and the Opposition on the social and cultural harm that gambling causes continues to be deafening, Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott, said today.
"This is NSW Parliament's dirty little secret that no-one wants to talk about, yet it should be the highest priority issue if the Parliament is serious about community improvement, Mr Oakeshott said.
"Keno in pubs, scratchies in convenience stores, and high-roller room upgrades at the Casino. All designed to capture more dollars from more people to help prop up failing Commonwealth-State relations, and a State economy that is legally not allowed to tax, Mr Oakeshott said.
"Yet those with authority to make substantial changes are silent. One only has to look at donations from gaming interests to see why this is so, Mr Oakeshott said.
"I particularly urge the Opposition to take up the cause. In a previous life as Shadow Minister for Gaming, I can confirm a well-argued case from opposition can make a difference, where the Casino high-rollers room was down-graded significantly, reform to poker machine laws were introduced to lessen the number in the market, and keno in pubs was put on hold, Mr Oakeshott said.
"The only difference between now and then is that the Opposition is completely silent on the issue, and this is allowing the Government to stick its snout deep into the trough of the gambling interests in NSW, and this is at the direct expense of the people of NSW, Mr Oakeshott said.
26 September 2007