Gillard's Betrayal Over The Poker Machine Reform

 Wednesday, 25 January 2012

“The Prime Minister has betrayed Andrew Wilkie on poker machine reform in the same way she betrayed the Australian people over a carbon tax, said Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell.

“The message that every Australian needs to take from this is that nothing this Prime Minister says can be trusted. Her agreement with Andrew Wilkie, was a drawn up legal document, rather than just a letter between two politicians. If the Prime Minister can back flip on this, then why should anyone take her seriously?, Alex Hawke said. 

Late last year Alex Hawke attended the Blacktown Workers Club speaking as the Coalition’s representative at a rally against mandatory pre-commitment. In front of some 2000 members, MP’s on all sides heard from ordinary people just how badly a great local club like Blacktown Workers would be affected.

“Both Labor Representatives, Michelle Rowland (Greenway) and Ed Husic (Chifley) displayed a complete contempt for the views of the workers at the Blacktown Workers rally.”

“If the booing and jeering of the crowd and the palpable anger in the room did not tell Michelle Rowland and Ed Husic something, perhaps they could have looked at the signs that read, ‘I am an Adult’ , I do not need the Government to make my choices for me’ or ‘Leave our club members alone’, said Alex Hawke.

“The Coalition has had a consistent position on poker machine reform all along.  Problem gambling destroys families and affects society as a whole.  It is an issue that needs to be addressed and the best way to deal with problem gambling is with voluntary pre-commitment, through more counselling and through tackling online gambling.  The trouble with online gambling is that you can lose your house without ever leaving your home”, Alex Hawke concluded.