Vic: Bracks looks forward to striking gambling funding deal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
Vic: Bracks looks forward to striking gambling funding deal

MELBOURNE, Dec 16 AAP - Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said today he looked forward
to striking a fairer commonwealth/state funding deal in the wake of a federal government
move on gambling.

Prime Minister John Howard today announced that the federal government would investigate
banning Internet gambling following recommendations from a Productivity Commission investigation.

The government would also establish a council of federal, state and territory ministers
to try to stop the expansion of gambling and combat problem gambling, Mr Howard said.

In government, Mr Bracks has promised to seek a fairer revenue deal with the Commonwealth
to allow the state to wean itself off gambling taxes.

"We look forward to the prime minister and the treasurer putting forward details of
a certain and secure share of commonwealth/state funding," said a spokesman.

He said the government was committed to returning balance to the gaming industry, including
providing more support to problem gamblers.

But he added that it would be very difficult to ban Internet gambling.

The government has also promised regional caps on poker machine numbers based on economic
and social impact studies, as well as tough restrictions on gambling promotion.

As well, it has promised tougher regulation of gaming and an end to 24-hour gambling
venues in regional and rural areas.

Labor in opposition used Victoria's status as the state most reliant on gaming revenue
to hammer the Kennett government for its promotion of the industry.

Victoria now receives more than 15 per cent of its tax revenue from gaming.

Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce spokesman Tim Costello congratulated Mr Howard on his stand.

"Morally the prime minister has a very strong hand with his ministerial gambling council,
but not much of a hand jurisdictionally," Mr Costello told AAP.

He warned that the move may boomerang back to Mr Howard when the states cut back on
gambling and call on the government to provide more money.

Salvation Army spokesman John Dalziel said it had been pushing the Victorian Casino
and Gaming Authority to thoroughly investigate people with a gambling problem for a long
time.

"One of the things that would come out of a combined Commonwealth/State government
investigative council would be a full social impact statement on the negative effects
of gambling," he told AAP.

Meanwhile, TABCORP said it was pleased the federal government had recognised the right
of Australians to gamble if they wished.

"TABCORP has always had a responsible approach to providing its products, collaborating
with the rest of industry, government, problem gambling service providers and venues to
ensure gaming is delivered responsibly," TABCORP spokeswoman Tricia Wunsch said.

Tattersall's said it had accepted there was problem gambling in the community and had
already put in place its own comprehensive safe gaming campaign, "Have Fun but Play it
Safe."

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal that in 1997/98 Victorians lost $3.77
billion through gambling, with an average loss per person of $819.

Gambling restrictions in Victoria include the banning of electronic gambling machines
(EGM) in strip-shopping or shopping centres and a cap of 30,000 EGMs.

AAP st/pjb/mh/hu

KEYWORD: GAMBLING VIC

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.