E&OE.............
DALLY:
Welcome to A Current Affair.
PRIME MINISTER:
Helen.
DALLY:
Now isn't your stand on this really just rhetoric and grandstanding because
states are the only ones who can really make any changes and they so substantially
dependent on gambling revenues?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it is not just rhetoric, I admit that it's very hard but I can't as
Prime Minister ignore the fact that there are 300,000 people who lose on
average $12,500 a year, most of them can't afford it. There will be many
Australian children who will have a pretty miserable Christmas because their
parents have become problem gamblers. Now, I am not pretending that is going
to be easy, I'm not setting a high sort of benchmark of achievement, but
we've had for the first time a very careful analysis of the problem and
I have invited all of the Governments to join in tackling it. It is just
not enough to say well it's too hard. I hope over time if we all work together,
including the gambling industry, including people in welfare groups that
we can make a difference. I am not trying to stop Australians gambling.
It's part of our life and for most part it's a very pleasurable, sensible
activity which people get a lot of fun out of.
DALLY:
But you are clearly worried about it?
PRIME MINISTER:
I am worried about the fact that there are 250, 000 to 300,000 people whose
lives have literally been blighted or destroyed.
DALLY:
It's a very damning Productivity Report.
PRIME MINISTER:
It is a very damning report and you just can't, difficult though it is,
you can't ignore these things. It is not particularly easy, I can't see
how it's grandstanding because some people will say, "gee what is he
on about, what's he trying to do?" I am not trying to tell a responsible
gambler he or she shouldn't do it what I am signalling is the fact there
is a hardcore, quite a significant number of people for whom it is a problem
and we do need to try and find solutions. I am also concerned about the
potential for the expansion for the gambling facilities on the Internet
and one of the things this Ministerial Council will look at is the feasibility
and the consequences of trying to prohibit Internet gambling. And we're
not alone on that - the Americans are having a look at that at the present
time.
DALLY:
But Internet gambling is at the moment almost non-existent, it is a very
tiny future potential.
PRIME MINISTER:
It is also one of the reasons we should be looking at it. I mean it is much
easier to anticipate something and do something about it then try and close
the stable door after the horse has bolted.
DALLY:
Ok, but is that an admission that you can't do really anything about reducing
what's out there now?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think it is very hard to roll back. It is not so hard to stop further
expansion of facilities it is not so hard or though very difficult nonetheless
to try and assist in different ways people who have a problem and that means
obliging more information to be made available to the public about odds.
It means instilling a greater sense of responsibility in some of the gambling
outlets.
DALLY:
But you haven't committed any Commonwealth funds to doing those very things
today, have you?
PRIME MINISTER:
Helen, today wasn't the day for announcing funds.
DALLY:
Why not?
PRIME MINISTER:
Because the first thing to do is set up the structure and then talk to the
governments and obviously if some resources are needed well they'll be provided
but we will also expect the states to make a contribution as well.
DALLY:
Sure, but would you concede . . .
PRIME MINISTER:
It is not enough for the states to just say well it is too hard because
we are reliant on revenue from gambling.
DALLY:
But would you concede they are, I mean some of the states would seem to
be addicted to gambling revenue?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, because it has been an easy buck for many of them, an easy buck. And
I think it is important that we understand that and, look, it is one of
those issues that the easier thing for me would be too say well this is
all too hard.
DALLY:
Well in a sense you are saying that it is very difficult.
PRIME MINISTER:
I know . . .
DALLY:
You may not get anywhere.
PRIME MINISTER:
But I am prepared to have a go at it. I am prepared to implement the findings
of the Productivity Commission inquiry, I am prepared to examine anticipatory
action in relation to the Internet, I am prepared to engage all of the states
and the welfare organisations and the gambling industry in trying to tackle
the problem of problem gamblers. Now . . .
DALLY:
Okay, are you prepared to replace the revenue that states are very dependent
on from gambling, with other revenue?
PRIME MINISTER:
The GST over time will be a growth tax. Once it gets in operation the revenue
from that will grow and it will give the states greater flexibility but
.
DALLY:
Can I just pick you up on that point because the New South Wales Government
has said this afternoon that it won't be nearly enough and could take ten
years.
PRIME MINISTER:
Can I say Helen that state governments always say that. From the beginning
of time state governments always say that. It is an easy way out to say
"well look we can't do anything about it because we are relying on
the federal government, it doesn't give us enough money". Look I don't
think the public who is more concerned about problem gamblers think that
is an adequate response. I think what they want the New South Wales Government
to do is to cooperate with me and not namecall and not say, "well it
is all too hard" and try and find a solution because there are thousands
of people whose lives are really blighted and destroyed because they have
become problem gamblers and I can't walk away from that.
DALLY:
Yes, but is there anything really concrete in what you have announced today
that will let people think that you have shown leadership on this and that
you are going to stop the problem gambling?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, the very fact that I am as Prime Minister putting it on the agenda
and saying that this is something governments have got to work together
to try and stop. I am not in a position to announce the solution tonight.
I am not a miracle maker, but I do as Prime Minister recognise that it is
a significant social problem. We can make a start and make a real indent
on real areas of gambling. We can as a community at least say the facilities
we now have are enough and that there is no case for further expansion of
facilities. And I've taken action as a Prime Minister to stop facilities
being expanded in an area where I had control and capacity to do it - that
is international air travel out of this country. I made it clear some time
ago that I wouldn't agree to a proposal that gambling facilities be put
on international airlines coming out of this country.
DALLY:
Would you support the Democrats' claim to want to limit poker machines?
PRIME MINISTER:
That is something I have an open mind on . .
DALLY:
But you won't commit tonight?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well Helen I don't control poker machines anywhere in Australia. They're
controlled by state governments and this is an area that needs to be discussed.
I mean I am pleased to note that the new Victorian Government has said it
wants to put limits on the number of poker machines and a number of state
governments are concerned about this. And one of the other dimensions of
gambling is that small business is very, very badly affected. Now it is
very easy to say "well look what are all the answers?". I don't
have all the answers now but I at least have a commitment as Prime Minister
to try and find them and to recognise that this is a big social problem
and what we are trying to do is balance the natural desire of all of us
to have a bet and it is a perfectly human condition with the recognition
that some of us can't handle it.
DALLY:
Okay Prime Minister on that note we will leave it there. Thank you for your
time.
PRIME MINISTER:
Thank you.
DALLY:
Happy Christmas to you.
PRIME MINISTER:
You too.
[ends]