The Weatherill Labor Government’s latest attempt to deliver its much hyped promise to cut the number of poker machines in South Australia by 814 has been an unmitigated failure.
“In March this year, the Labor Government announced a new trading round for poker machines to help deliver its promise to cut another 814 machines,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said.
“This was a follow up to Labor’s original promise in 2004 to cut 3,000 machines. In fact, only about 2,200 machine were cut – leading to the shortfall of about 800 machines.
“The results of the latest much hyped trading round has resulted in a cut of only 13 machines!”
The website of the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner shows:
• Only 81 machines were traded
• Sellers will receive $54,472.73
• Buyers had to pay $72,630.30
“At this rate it would take another 63 trading rounds, or about 30 years, for the Labor Government to achieve its promise of a cut of 814 machines,” Mr Lucas said.
“It is clear that uncertainty about various Federal Labor policies, such as mandatory or voluntary pre-commitment, has significantly driven down the value of machines to a level where most owners are unwilling to sell their machines.
“Earlier this year industry sources indicated owners would need to receive close to $100,000 per machine to encourage more machines to be traded.
“It is now time for the Weatherill Labor Government to admit that it won’t be able to achieve its promise of cutting 814 poker machines and that its current trading round has been an unmitigated failure,” Mr Lucas said.