Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Get-Up: problem pokies

www.getup.org.au/campaign/pokies
From Andrew Wilkie

Problem gamblers can easily lose more than $1,000 an hour on poker machines. It tears families apart, houses are lost and kids go hungry. That's why the machines are referred to as the 'crack cocaine of the gambling industry.'

In this Parliament we have our best chance ever to tackle the problem on account of the agreement for reform I have with the Government.

But the powerful Clubs Australia has just announced that it will spend $20 million to stop that happening. And we all know what the mining industry achieved with its $20-million advertising campaign against the super profits tax last year.

It will take a committed effort to win this fight. Let's give it an enormous boost with a huge national petition to show my colleagues and the media that while Clubs Australia has the money, we have the people.

I'll launch the petition with GetUp at the National Press Club today and present it to the Prime Minister when we reach 100,000 names. Please add your voice and forward this to everyone you know.

www.getup.org.au/campaign/pokies

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