MP ‘win’ over pokie strategy

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
CLUBS Australia’s campaign against pokie reforms in Geelong has backfired badly, according to Corangamite MP Darren Cheese-man.
Mr Cheeseman said he continued to be a “strong supporter” of poker machine reforms despite reports of a Gillard Government backdown on proposed mandatory pre-commitment laws.
“The feedback in Corangamite and greater Geelong region is that the clubs’ campaign has been entirely counterproductive,” he said.
“Every dollar the clubs spent on campaigning in our region has seen support for poker machine reforms grow.
“We have a different culture to New South Wales and electors strongly back reform. The more they campaign, the stronger the support for reform grows.”
Mr Cheeseman challenged Clubs Australia to continue the campaign.
“Bring it on,” he declared.
“The people of Corangamite can recognise naked self-interest. This campaign has backfired.
“I’m a strong supporter of pokie reforms because of the fact that 40 per cent of gambling revenue comes from problem gamblers.
“The Government position is that we want to undertake reforms that will be effective. We want to make sure there are thorough trials undertaken of mandatory pre commitment, likely to happen across the ACT.
“I’d like to see both mandatory pre-commitment and maximum $1 bets implemented.”
A Clubs Victoria rally at Buckley’s Entertainment Centre late last year targeted Mr Cheeseman’s marginal electorate.
Geelong and District Football League president Neville Whitley said the Government’s apparent pokies backdown suggested the marginal seat tactic “seems to have worked”.
A Clubs Australia spokesman said the marginal seats campaign would continue.
“Some of the reports will be on the mark and some wide of the mark but the campaign will continue while it is government policy,” he said.
“The campaign has left some government MPs in an awkward situation and that’s bad news for them.”