Senator slams pokies approval

A VICTORIAN Senator has slammed Casey Council’s recent decision to approve 60 poker machines being installed at the Casey Towers development.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding said his party had devised a radical plan that will see pokies phased out of pubs and clubs and restricted to race courses and casinos.
“Family First does not believe families in the south-eastern suburbs need even more poker machines as part of Casey Towers,” Senator Fielding said.
“But while the State Government and venues continue to hit the jackpot with huge profits from pokies, these machines will continue to pop up at every community venue.
“Family First’s proposed tax will make poker machines unprofitable, pushing them out of the suburbs and into racetracks and casinos where they belong,” he said.
The proposed tax will be phased in over a number of years to allow businesses to wean themselves off poker machine profits.
All revenue from the tax will be held in a trust fund to help community and sporting groups through the transition.
Casey Towers officials will now present their case for approval to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation.
Developers of the $90 million Narre Warren complex last year outlined their plans to give back at least $100,000 each year to the community if granted a licence to operate 60 poker machines.
But Senator Fielding is not convinced.
“Every day Australians are ambushed by the temptation of poker machines at local pubs and clubs.
“Family First wants pokies to be restricted to racetracks and casinos, which are dedicated gambling venues where people go to have a flutter, not community venues where families go to eat dinner,” he said.