Opposition Attacked Over Proposal to Cut Australian Gaming Machines

As reported by Geelong Info: "Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu believes his plan to cut 20 per cent of the state's pokies will solve Geelong's gambling woes.

"But the Australian Hotels Association president, Geelong-based Peter Burnett, yesterday joined Geelong's Labor MP Ian Trezise to slam the policy.

"Mr Burnett said there was no evidence to suggest reducing poker machine numbers reduced the number of gambling addicts.

"He said he had expressed his opinion to Mr Baillieu and was baffled he had pursued it.

"...Mr Burnett also hit out at Crown Casino's exclusion from the policy, as its licence for 2500 machines does not expire until 2032. The rest of the state's licence expires in 2012, at which point Mr Baillieu's plan would come into effect if he is made premier at this year's election.

"...Mr Baillieu defended the policy as 'what Victorians want' and dismissed claims his plan would not help problem gamblers..."

2006-07-25