NRL and AFL tackle PM over plan to curb the use of poker machines

[Spanner in the works]

You seem to have an opinion on this issue. Why shouldn't Gus Gould?

Part of the media. Under the Code of Practice for television broadcasts he can't without disclosing. So there.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...f-poker-machines/story-e6freuy9-1226145384781

NRL and AFL tackle PM over plan to curb the use of poker machines

Samantha Maiden National Political Editor
The Sunday Telegraph
September 25, 2011 12:00AM

JULIA Gillard faces a revolt by the NRL, powerful AFL clubs and her own backbench over the poker machine reforms that could kill her government.

Influential AFL presidents - including Nine identity Eddie McGuire, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett and millionaire businessman David Smorgon - will meet tomorrow to launch a public assault against the laws during grand final week.

They believe the changes - driven by independent MP Andrew Wilkie - won't curb problem gambling but will slash the profits some clubs rely on for survival.

The meeting, to discuss the carve-up of football licensing agreements for the next five years, will now also hold crisis talks over the pokies threat.

It follows a campaign by the NRL to scuttle the laws.

The NRL used Channel 9's telecast of the Manly v Broncos final on Friday night to campaign against the proposals and will repeat the attack during the grand final broadcast next weekend.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has spent weeks lobbying MPs behind the scenes, holding talks with Families Minister Jenny Macklin, Sports Minister Mark Arbib and Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten when he travelled to Canberra a fortnight ago.

He is also seeking talks with Mr Wilkie, who has warned he will bring down the government if the reforms don't go through .

And the man who helped install Julia Gillard as Prime Minister, former national ALP secretary Karl Bitar is now helping to coordinate the campaign in his new job as a Crown Casino lobbyist.

Up to 25 Labor MPs are also threatening to vote against the plan in Caucus.

Leading the AFL charge is McGuire, the Collingwood president, who is warning the government can expect a "massive kickback" from the football clubs on Monday.

One AFL president who asked not be named said: "This is not about politics this is about survival."

"We have spoken to government and expressed our concerns and will continue to do so," AFL media manager Patrick Keane said yesterday.

Mr McGuire told Channel 9 on Friday that clubs were "on the hook" for millions of dollars in investment in Victoria after paying for new pokie licences.

"To suddenly, out of nowhere, without any consultation to have what looks like being a footy tax imposed is going to hit football clubs right between the eyes," Mr McGuire said.

Senior Gillard government sources are laying much of the blame for stirring the AFL at the feet of former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, the Hawthorn president, and Mr Bitar's boss, James Packer.

Jenny Macklin said the AFL was not under threat from the government's plans.

 

[Flapper]

Note how much softer Macklin's language is than when the NRL said exactly the same thing. I cant find the link, but she was extremely hostile. She should've said exactly the same words to the AFL if she truly believes it.

 

[franklin2323]

Clubs have simply ignored every other revenue stream because they wanted to sit back on pokie profits. Anything threatens their industry and they have what, 20 million dollar advertising campaigns to go against it?

Exactly. I am not for this stupid policy. However other states don't rely on the pokies & clubs stay viable. If it wasn't for the non-smoking in clubs. I doubt we would be flogging memberships like we do now. Most of the clubs are run by dinosaurs some forward thinking & we are fine.

 

[myanonymoususername]

Says a lot about the club industry's priorities when the first thing they want to ditch when times get tough for them is the small % of their earnings they spend on community/sporting activities.

 

[Goddy]

I don't care what anyone says, Andrew Wilkie is using the current situation in Parliament to throw his weight around. That is Totalitarianism, and it is a disgrace. The man is a prick.

 

[Spanner in the works]

I don't care what anyone says, Andrew Wilkie is using the current situation in Parliament to throw his weight around. That is Totalitarianism, and it is a disgrace. The man is a prick.

No. It's democracy because it will go to a vote.

 

[Goddy]

No. It's democracy because it will go to a vote.

A loaded vote; He knows Labor won't risk losing power, so they'll vote in favor of it in spite of themselves.

I haven't stated my support or opposition to the policy, I just don't respect Wilkies Opportunism.

 

[Spanner in the works]

A loaded vote; He knows Labor won't risk losing power, so they'll vote in favor of it in spite of themselves.

I haven't stated my support or opposition to the policy, I just don't respect Wilkies Opportunism.

Hardly a totalitarian government though. Unless they stop constituents voting and people crossing the floor.

 

[Goddy]

Hardly a totalitarian government though. Unless they stop constituents voting and people crossing the floor.

I didn't describe the Government as Totalitarian, I described Andrew Wilkie as Totalitarian.

 

[Spanner in the works]

I didn't describe the Government as Totalitarian, I described Andrew Wilkie as Totalitarian.

Misunderstood.

 

[El Diablo]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/afl-joins-nrl-in-pokies-revolt-20110925-1kr99.html

AFL joins NRL in pokies revolt
Lisa Martin
September 25, 2011 - 4:24PM

AAP

A cashed-up alliance of rival footy codes has joined Clubs Australia's fight against the federal government's poker-machine reforms in a move anti-gambling campaigners are labelling a disgrace.

During grand final week the AFL and NRL are planning to run television advertisements against mandatory pre-commitment technology for high-intensity pokies.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and individual club presidents are scheduled to meet on Monday to map out campaign strategies.

Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he's disappointed with the AFL and the NRL and has revealed he faces potential legal action from Clubs Australia and Clubs NSW over comments he made on the pokies reform issue.

"I would have thought the AFL would have taken a leadership role," Mr Wilkie told reporters in Hobart on Sunday.

Mr Wilkie slammed Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's claim the pokies reforms were a "footy tax".

"That's patently ridiculous," he said.

"He shouldn't use such inflammatory terms."

Under Mr Wilkie's plan, poker machines will be reprogrammed to cap losses at $120 an hour rather than $1200 an hour, while "lower intensity" machines will not require any form of pre-commitment.

Mr Wilkie said Clubs Australia and its NSW branch have threatened him with defamation action over comments he made in September regarding the Salvation Army and the pokie reforms.

The letter informed Mr Wilkie that if he doesn't withdraw his comments and apologise then legal action will be launched.

Mr Wilkie has assembled a team of defamation lawyers to deal with the matter, led by fellow anti-gambling campaigner, independent senator Nick Xenophon.

"If they think I'm the kind of character who will be bullied into silence they completely misread me," he said.

Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday that footy codes, like the government, had a "duty of care" to help vulnerable problem gamblers.

She cited the West Australian Football League as an example of sporting groups being successful without needing to rely on the proceeds of problem gambling.

Western Australia does not have poker machines in pubs and clubs.

Senator Xenophon said the AFL's stance was irresponsible.

"The AFL clubs declaring war on these reforms are in effect declaring war on problem gamblers," he told reporters in Adelaide.

"Anybody who doubts Andrew Wilkie's resolve on this issue is being a mug."

Anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello said the AFL and NRL were "shamelessly" misleading their fans.

"They will not go broke because of a pre-commitment card," Reverend Costello told AAP, adding that the AFL had just scored a $1.2 billion TV rights deal.

"This is powerful vested interests against the public's welfare ... it's out of control.

"When 40 per cent of profits come from addicted people, how is that responsible?"

Rev Costello said it was hypocritical for the AFL to campaign against the reforms given the number of players, such as former Carlton star Brendan Fevola, suffering gambling addictions.

Liberal frontbencher Kevin Andrews defended the NRL and AFL involvement in the campaign.

He said the government was allowing itself to be dictated to by Mr Wilkie because it was desperate to cling to power.

Clubs Australia says the pokies reforms are "directly attacking the ability of clubs across the country to support AFL and rugby league teams".

 

[Goddy]

Kevin Andrews hit the nail on the head. If Wilkie wants to force these reforms onto his own electorate, let him, but don't try and shove it down the whole countries throats.

 

[Mr Pmatta]

I don't care what anyone says, Andrew Wilkie is using the current situation in Parliament to throw his weight around. That is Totalitarianism, and it is a disgrace. The man is a prick.

Very well said.

 

[BunniesMan]

I don't care what anyone says, Andrew Wilkie is using the current situation in Parliament to throw his weight around. That is Totalitarianism, and it is a disgrace. The man is a prick.

Although I support anything that reduces gambling, this pokies tax will not do anything helpful and do a lot of harm.

But in fairness to Wilkie, he didn't suddenly spring this on us. During the negotiations he said his support is conditional on this. The Labor government knew that, they willing shook hands with him knowing what that meant.

The Liberals were willing to do the same thing, if he chose them they'd be the ones shoving this down our throat.

Kevin Andrews hit the nail on the head. If Wilkie wants to force these reforms onto his own electorate, let him, but don't try and shove it down the whole countries throats.

Well the thing is everyone who is elected to Federal parliament has power over all of us, not just his or her own electorate.

And people get the government they deserve. A few more votes for the Liberals or Labor around the country and they'd have had power in their own right. But as a country we didn't vote for that so we're stuck with morons like Oakeshott and Wilkie wielding real power.

 

[big_matt]

It's time for Australia to move into the 21st century and get over the obsession with pokies from funding sports to roads to all other things. Other countries stopped funding everything from pokie machines in approximately 1975.

It's absolutely laughable that our 2 biggest sports codes are completely relying on addicted gamblers to run their businesses.

 

[Parra]

The clubs rep Anthony Ball got it right when he advised Labor MP's that their job was to represent Bankstown in Canberra, not represent Canberra in Bankstown.


These people represent their elecorates. Not the ALP and not Andrew Wilkes narrow view of the world.


The message from Anthony Ball needs to be repeated clearly and often.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/mass-protest-against-pokie-policy-20110811-1ip6u.html

 

[linny]

Does the AFL gain much from poker machine revenue ?

 

[beave]

I believe a few teams have clubs with pokies in them, Collingwood has a big one i think???

 

[WAPAU]

It's time for Australia to move into the 21st century and get over the obsession with pokies from funding sports to roads to all other things. Other countries stopped funding everything from pokie machines in approximately 1975.

It's absolutely laughable that our 2 biggest sports codes are completely relying on addicted gamblers to run their businesses.

Too right mate, rugby league doesn't need pokies, and they defiantly don't need channel nine and their political agenda.