SA: Gambling plan useless without state funding No Pokies MP

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
SA: Gambling plan useless without state funding No Pokies MP

South Australian No Pokies MP NICK XENOPHON says Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD'S anti-gambling
initiatives would be window dressing without changes to state funding.

Mr XENOPHON also says Mr HOWARD's proposed ministerial council could turn into a talk-fest
which delays policy making and lets gambling expansion continue.

He says fundamental changes to limit gambling would not be made while the state governments
relied heavily on gambling revenue.

And failure to tackle the fiscal issue could mean the PM's initiatives will turn into
a piece of window dressing.

He says South Australia currently receives one seventh of its tax dollars from gambling.





Mr XENOPHON said Mr HOWARD'S response to the Productivity Commission report is a step
in the right direction, but immediate policy action is needed.

AAP RTV scl/jn

KEYWORD: GAMBLING XENOPHON (ADELAIDE)

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