Family First’s NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has today welcomed the Greens’ proposal to restrict poker machines after midnight, saying it is a good first step toward tackling one of Australia’s most destructive social problems.
“Family First doesn’t agree with the Greens on very much, but on this occasion, there’s alignment,” Mr Shelton said.
“The Greens’ bill to shut down poker machines between midnight and 10am is a positive start — but it should be the beginning, not the end. Family First has long called for poker machines to be phased out altogether.”
Mr Shelton said poker machines were an entrenched source of social harm, particularly for the poor and vulnerable.
“Behind the statistics are real families — people losing their homes, marriages breaking down, children growing up in the shadow of addiction. Poker machines devastate lives, and governments have been complicit by depending on the revenue,” he said.
Australians lose more per capita to gambling than any other country in the world — over $32 billion each year, with poker machines accounting for the bulk of that harm.
“Family First believes the profits made from human misery must end,” Mr Shelton said. “During a sensible phase-out period, gaming revenue should be redirected into an industry adjustment fund to help pubs and clubs transition to other income streams.”
Mr Shelton said it was encouraging to see a growing cross-party consensus on gambling reform, but warned that political courage would be needed to take on vested interests.
“The Coalition’s internal division over this issue shows just how hard it is for the major parties to break their addiction to gambling money,” he said. “It’s time to put people before pokies.”
“Family First stands for policies that take the pressure off families — and that means tackling the scourge of poker machine addiction head-on.”
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