PETITION: Axe The Tax, it affect THE EELS

[The Whippet]

I have set up a petition to axe the proposed the New South Wales Poker Machine Tax, which may threaten the viability of 7 New South Wales and is the reason why the salary cap can't be increased.

Here's a link:

http://www.petitiononline.com/57987/petition.html

I will take the petition to New South Wales Government House in May when I go there on a school excursion and give a hard copy to my local MP, David Campbell to forward to Michael Egan. Alternatively if I see Michael Egan I will hand it too him and give him a mouth full of what I think of the tax.

IT AFFECTS THE EELS BECAUSE THE SALARY CAP MAY NOT BE LIFTED IF THE POKIE TAX GOES AHEAD AND PARRAMATTA LEAGUES WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IT CURRENTLY GIVES TO THE EELS.

 

[half]

our club should not be dependant on pokie money. i once wasted $10 in one of those things and have vowed never to use one ever again. all they do is exploit stupid people

as denis fitzgerald says, no other professional sports organisation in the world relies so much on pokies

 

[bartman]

IT AFFECTS THE EELS BECAUSE THE SALARY CAP MAY NOT BE LIFTED IF THE POKIE TAX GOES AHEAD AND PARRAMATTA LEAGUES WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IT CURRENTLY GIVES TO THE EELS.

Sorry to be controversial, but...
I don't support the raising of the salary cap. I believe only one of 15 NRL clubs supports the raising of the salary cap for 2005, and I think we all know why that is.

Also I believe your logic is faulty, as it seems on the one hand you want the salary cap raised so clubs spend more money on football, and on the other hand you are saying that the pokie tax will jeopardise the amount of money affiliated clubs pass onto their football operations? :-k

You can't have it both ways! I suggest you stick to the one argument (jeopardised funding), leave the salary cap issue for a different petition, and them maybe you might convince some people to sign?

 

[bazza]

Parramatta should concentrate on getting people to their games.

Maybe with less pokie money they won't waste as much money on soccer and rugby union fantasies

 

[The Whippet]

This tax will hurt Parramatta most at the grass roots level because many junior clubs rely on grants from clubs to support their team so it will hurt the juniors most.

 

[bartman]

That's more like it - none of that salary cap whinging nonsense!

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I think they will reverse their decision when they get the petition. I have absolutely no doubt about this.

 

[half]

oi! an online petition signed by 70 people carries lots of political clout

 

[The Whippet]

Actually we now have 109 signatures. I can give you 99% assurance that I will have at least 1000 signatures before May. Considering this petition has been going for 5 days.

If you want to sit back and watch league crumble away that's your business but I'm not and I'm trying to have a go.

I will point these facts out too you:

1. 55% of all New South Wales clubs will be financially unviable.

2. 25% of New South Wales clubs employees will lose their jobs and some will have to take pay reductions.

3. Temora RSL will be unable to build a war memorial to remember the soldiers lost at war because of the Pokie Tax. The club had saved $40 000 but this money will now be used to keep that club financially viable over the next 3 years.

4. 1 in 4 children suffers obesity. The Carr Government wants them to do more exercise yet the same Government wants to take away all the funding from them? I don't get it.

5. Why not tax cigarettes instead? They cause more harm to the community.

 

[bartman]

Again, sorry to be controversial, but there are (more than) two sides to every story.

Whilst clubs have been very active in organising (and paying for) a media campaign against the tax, I'm not ready to accept their campaign assertions as undisputed "facts". "Facts" 1 and 2 are complete bollocks, and seem to be projections as to what might happen if clubs continued blindly, not adjusting their operations in the years ahead despite the introduction of the tax! If any club had to sack that percentage of employees after a change in tax arrangements I'd say club management problems would be more to blame.

Good on you for organising a petition for what you believe in, and its potential effect on league. Full credit there But please don't state "facts" about a controversial issue without at least referring to your sources? I wont argue against these "facts" here, because your actual petition is a good simple petition (and leaves out these disputable/flimsy arguments).

 

[Misty Bee]

BTW, Cigarettes are taxed. And if Temora RSL can't afford a memorial 86 years after WW1 ended, they never will!

 

[Jic Jarrett]

As for cigarettes doing more harm for the community, remember, there is a s**t load of problem gambling in NSW, problems that lead to suicide, family breakups and crime. That's why the RCG laws are now in effect! I don't see my beloved durries doing that type of crap, and by the time I have lung cancer, there should be a cure...............(I hope, otherwise I'm screwed).