Post by Banjo on Sept 2, 2011 6:44:12 GMT 7
Centrelink bans venues with pokie machines
CENTRELINK bureaucrats have stopped their staff from holding financial information seminars in venues with poker machines, prompting derision from clubs and hotels.
A Centrelink spokesman said the policy was introduced in response to "community concern", but also admitted no blanket ban applied.
About 2700 Financial Information Service seminars were held by Centrelink across the country last year.
The policy has sparked disappointment and amazement for Terry Zajer, manager of the 103-year old Marion Sports and Community Club in suburban Adelaide, which has hosted retirement income information sessions since 2007.
The club has received $1 million in federal government grants since Labor came to power, yet Mr Zajer says he was told in July it was no longer considered an appropriate venue for the seminars.
Clubs Australia chief executive Anthony Ball said: "For reasons that defy both logic and evidence, the federal government seems to be of the view that any person who enters a club is a potential problem gambler."
Mr Ball said the policy was ironic, given clubs were responding to government pressure to diversify revenue streams away from gaming by boosting their function facilities.
He linked the ban to the government push for mandatory pre-commitment technology on poker machines that would compel gamblers to set limits on their losses before they start playing.
"Clearly publicly opposing bad government policy such as mandatory pre-commitment isn't good for business when one of your important clients is Centrelink."
Government sources insisted the ban had come from Centrelink itself.
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/centrelink-bans-venues-with-pokie-machines/story-fn59niix-1226127664868
CENTRELINK bureaucrats have stopped their staff from holding financial information seminars in venues with poker machines, prompting derision from clubs and hotels.
A Centrelink spokesman said the policy was introduced in response to "community concern", but also admitted no blanket ban applied.
About 2700 Financial Information Service seminars were held by Centrelink across the country last year.
The policy has sparked disappointment and amazement for Terry Zajer, manager of the 103-year old Marion Sports and Community Club in suburban Adelaide, which has hosted retirement income information sessions since 2007.
The club has received $1 million in federal government grants since Labor came to power, yet Mr Zajer says he was told in July it was no longer considered an appropriate venue for the seminars.
Clubs Australia chief executive Anthony Ball said: "For reasons that defy both logic and evidence, the federal government seems to be of the view that any person who enters a club is a potential problem gambler."
Mr Ball said the policy was ironic, given clubs were responding to government pressure to diversify revenue streams away from gaming by boosting their function facilities.
He linked the ban to the government push for mandatory pre-commitment technology on poker machines that would compel gamblers to set limits on their losses before they start playing.
"Clearly publicly opposing bad government policy such as mandatory pre-commitment isn't good for business when one of your important clients is Centrelink."
Government sources insisted the ban had come from Centrelink itself.
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/centrelink-bans-venues-with-pokie-machines/story-fn59niix-1226127664868
;D
