No great expectation of a win

POKIES

IT is always helpful to focus on the difficulties of the disadvantaged and problem gamblers in our society. But by far the greatest spenders at the pokies must be the ordinary individuals who go out for coffee or lunch with a friend midweek or are a member of the working lot seeking Thursday night or weekend drinks and entertainment. Usually they make a predetermined decision regarding the limit they are prepared to lose.

There should be no great expectation about coming away a winner because pokies are not designed to let the masses win. If they were, they wouldn’t be promoted in the first place. You will hear from time to time of the big winner, but the ordinary Joe Blow out for lunch or coffee or the office worker will simply continue to make their usual contributions. Poker machine operators and state governments are simply there to rake in cash and taxes. Of course governments will argue it is a legitimate way of raising revenue. ario of eliminating certain gaming is just another throw of the dice in the ever complicated game of endeavouring to protect people (and their families) from themselves. At times we, as a community, are required to safeguard the common good. Governments need to step in when the human spirit has lost its way. Restrictions may be seen as interference with freedom of choice, yet the benefit is something the community should consider as an important value, an acceptance some of us can easily go off the rails.

Jobs secondary

THE gambling industry is a parasite on our people and now it has leached onto the Liberal Party. The Liberals are captive to policy dictates from powerful gambling interests and the electorate has to resist. Is it our state or theirs? When corporations claim their interest is in jobs then bollocks abounds. Business is properly about profit. Jobs are secondary. The Government’s own report shows only 317 jobs statewide rely on pokies, not 5000.

Hardly a dent

PREMIER Hodgman has said that “99.5 per cent of Tasmanians are able to gamble responsibly” ( Mercury, January 10). TasCOSS research finds that over 15 per cent of regular players are likely to become addicted. The Liberal policy of removing 150 machines while leaving 3530 will make only a minor blip in the number of addicted players, whose losses account for 40 A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. per cent of all losses. The problem is that pool of addicted players. The Liberal policy of harm minimisation will make hardly a dent. Removing machines from pubs and clubs but allowing the machines is surely a reasonable balance to strike. The Liberal policy avoids the real issues of wasted money and spoiled lives.

We make our choices

SPOKE to Jacqui Lambie at the Sorell market and her reason for getting rid of pokies from pubs and clubs is she wants to see food on the table for kids. Does she really think this will be the saviour of getting food on the table? Has she not heard of online gaming, Tattslotto and all the other forms of gambling?

I told her what she is trying to do is tell people how to live and spend their money. We happen to live in a democracy where we all make our own choices. Some make bad ones.

Savings and jobs

THE exaggerated claims about job losses if pokies were to disappear should be measured against the increase in family and social welfare and the extra spending power which will open many new avenues for employment. We should ask ourselves who is the greatest beneficiary from pokies. I for one place the welfare of many Tasmanians before increasing the wealth of an already rich family.

Keep the date

IF we change the date of Australia Day to please a minority group of people one can be sure they won’t let it stop there. Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 and I believe it should stay that way.

What’s the big deal

SEEING as January 26 has only been used in recent years, as opposed to Australia Day being on the last weekend in January, what is the big deal about the date? It seems bloody-mindedness and racism on the part of anti-change brigade.

Nervous flyer

IF flying is so safe, why is there a need to call the airport terminal?

Biggest issue

VOTERS can only vote for a party which gives top priority to addressing climate change. All other issues are just hot air.

Keeping cups

IF the reusable coffee cups travel the same road as the reusable supermarket bags they will be forgotten and left in your drawer ( Mercury, January 25).