FED:Wilkie to put pokies on Gillard's agenda

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2010
FED:Wilkie to put pokies on Gillard's agenda

By Patrick Caruana

HOBART, Aug 27 AAP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be reminded about the poker
machine problem in her own electorate when she meets with independent MP Andrew Wilkie
on Saturday.

Mr Wilkie met with independent senator Nick Xenophon in Hobart today to discuss the
how they might tackle poker machine reforms when parliament resumes.

"There will be a call for reform from me when I meet with the prime minister in Melbourne,"

Mr Wilkie told reporters in Hobart on Friday.

"This is an issue which I would hope the prime minister is keen to help with. After
all, her own electorate in Melbourne has the highest loss on poker machines of any electorate
in the country."

Senator Xenophon said he was glad to have another anti-pokies ally in parliament.

"We're on the same page when it comes to poker machines," he said.

"Here is a very unique and rare opportunity to do some good for the community when
it comes to poker machines, which do so much harm, which do so much damage to communities."

Mr Wilkie said a $1 bet limit was one of many options for the federal government to consider.

"This can be done through the parliament. There are many pieces of legislation which
are relevant to this, not least of which is the corporations law," he said.

He admitted it would be difficult to convince states to potentially give up the revenue
generated by poker machines.

"There's more than enough research to suggest that the cost to the community is greater
than the tax revenue received," he said.

"There will be a reduction in tax revenue, but I am confident that the savings to the
community will be much more than the tax lost."

He said he would not seek access to the costings of both parties' election promises.

Mr Wilkie said he was yet to decide the full list of issues he would raise with Ms
Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, but he would try to make them honour their
commitment to provide $20 million worth of emergency assistance for Tasmania's forestry
workers.

He rejected Greens leader Senator Bob Brown's criticism that it would continue the
destruction of native forests.

"This is about families, not about forests," he said.

"(This is) not to perpetuate the logging of native forests indefinitely, but somewhat
of a bailout of a sector of the industry who is suffering disproportionately at the moment."

After narrowly missing out on a seat in the Tasmanian parliament in March, Mr Wilkie
said he was not going to claim a win in Denison until every vote was counted, despite
holding an almost unassailable lead.

"I learnt a very important lesson then (in March): just when you least expect it, expect
it," he said.

"I will not be claiming victory until the seat is declared by the Electoral Commission.

"But, of course, I've got to start talking to people if I'm going to stand up the next
government."

AAP pbc/it/cdh

KEYWORD: POLL10 WILKIE WRAP

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