THREE thousand poker machines will be "ripped out" of hotels and clubs if a conscience vote in State Parliament endorses a 20 per cent reduction in gaming machine numbers.
Premier Mike Rann will personally urge all MPs to support the reduction in a move described as a "test of his leadership".
Gambling Minister Jay Weatherill will draw up legislation over the next few weeks to reduce poker machines from 15,000 to 12,000, in line with recommendations of the Independent Gambling Authority report into poker machine numbers.
The announcement prompted an angry response from the Australian Hotels Association, which said pulling out 3000 machines was "window dressing" and would do nothing to reduce problem gambling.
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Mr Rann said the existing freeze on poker machine numbers, due to expire on May 31, would be extended to cover the transition period before changes were made. "I'm extending the freeze and then I'm going to rip out 3000 machines out of the system and I'm confident of getting support on that from Members of Parliament," Mr Rann said.
He said poker machines had been a conscience issue "for time immemorial" and making it a vote along party lines would have necessitated changes to Labor Party rules. "I'll be speaking individually to every MP Labor, Liberal and independent urging them to support my position," Mr Rann said.
AHA chief executive John Lewis said he had information from Treasury officers that cutting 3000 machines would have no impact on budget revenue.
"I would think that any measure, particularly a problem gambling measure, that's going to be effective or successful, should impact significantly on the Treasury budget revenue," he said.
"We are serious about gambling reform, but we are not going to support a measure that is window dressing, that deceives the public of South Australia and unfortunately that's what this measure does."
Mr Weatherill refused to reveal how much revenue would fall, but said lowering the density of machines would limit problem gambling and reduce Government revenue.
Under the IGA recommendations, venues which have 28 or more gaming machines will lose eight. Venues with 21 to 27 machines will be cut back to 20.
Mr Rann ruled out compensating venues for the loss of poker machines.
No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon said the move was a "step in the right direction" but cutting machine numbers needed to be part of an overall package involving banning ATMs and smoking in gaming rooms and slowing down the rate of play of poker machines.
Opposition gambling spokesman Robert Brokenshire said he would support the cut.
Flagstaff on Franklin Hotel licensee Bob Rose said he would be happy to go along with the reduction – but doubted it would have much effect on problem gambling.
"It isn't going to solve their problems, but on the other hand the Government has got to do something."
Source: Leanne Craig, The Advertiser
