❓ Mr. Krsticevic asks about WA's per capita gambling expenditure compared to the rest of Australia. The Minister responds that WA has the lowest expenditure, attributing it to the state's policy on poker machines.
AnsweredQoN 247Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GAMBLING — PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE
247. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming :
Can the minister please inform the house how Western
Australia fares when it comes to per capita expenditure on gambling in
comparison with the rest of Australia?
247. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming :
Can the minister please inform the house how Western
Australia fares when it comes to per capita expenditure on gambling in
comparison with the rest of Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Carine for a good question, because
this matter is important. I have previously spoken in the house on this issue
and I want to provide an update because it is good for all members of
Parliament to understand where we are at. Recently the Queensland Office of
Economic and Statistical Research released the Australian gambling statistics
for 2011–12, and I am pleased to report to the house that in terms of
annual per capita gambling expenditure—that is, how much each person
gambles in a year—Western Australia has once again come last by a long
way. This is one of the things in which we want to come last. The Australian
gambling statistics are interesting and I am sure that both sides agree that we
should look at them.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Do opposition members not want to hear this?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you very much. Members for Victoria Park, West Swan and Girrawheen, I do not
want to hear from you again.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
The statistics show that adult Western Australians spent on average $713 on
gambling during the year—the lowest by far of all states and
territories. Compare that $713 with the Northern Territory, where the average
is $4 059; New South Wales, $1 384; Victoria, $1 255; and the national average
of $1 179. In percentage terms, Western Australia contributes 6.4 per cent to
all gambling expenditure in Australia, yet our population is 10.5 per cent.
There is no doubt that the longstanding policy of successive governments on
both sides of this place has been to resist the establishment of poker machines
in pubs and clubs. That has been a good decision and is supported by the
public. The government could earn up to $400 million in extra tax dollars if
the state were to allow them, but given the social problems created by poker
machines I think it is money that governments should be happy to forgo. Western
Australia is unique in Australia. I have said in this house before that every
time I go to a gambling ministers' conference, 90 per cent of the time
is spent —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : At
the tables!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : — talking about this problem. Good one, member for
Victoria Park! So that members know, even though there are machines at the
Crown casino in Perth, the machines there are not true poker machines. The
minimum spin at Crown Perth is five seconds while the spin ratio for true poker
machines is much faster—in fact, twice as fast. I am trying to speed
up, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Can
the minister spin it to a conclusion.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : This is important, Mr Speaker, because at Crown there is no
auto play, fewer betting options and voluntary pre-commitment. I think this
matter is important to all Western Australians. Gambling is a huge issue and I
want to let the house know that we in Western Australia are in good shape
compared with other states and territories in Australia.
this matter is important. I have previously spoken in the house on this issue
and I want to provide an update because it is good for all members of
Parliament to understand where we are at. Recently the Queensland Office of
Economic and Statistical Research released the Australian gambling statistics
for 2011–12, and I am pleased to report to the house that in terms of
annual per capita gambling expenditure—that is, how much each person
gambles in a year—Western Australia has once again come last by a long
way. This is one of the things in which we want to come last. The Australian
gambling statistics are interesting and I am sure that both sides agree that we
should look at them.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Do opposition members not want to hear this?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you very much. Members for Victoria Park, West Swan and Girrawheen, I do not
want to hear from you again.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
The statistics show that adult Western Australians spent on average $713 on
gambling during the year—the lowest by far of all states and
territories. Compare that $713 with the Northern Territory, where the average
is $4 059; New South Wales, $1 384; Victoria, $1 255; and the national average
of $1 179. In percentage terms, Western Australia contributes 6.4 per cent to
all gambling expenditure in Australia, yet our population is 10.5 per cent.
There is no doubt that the longstanding policy of successive governments on
both sides of this place has been to resist the establishment of poker machines
in pubs and clubs. That has been a good decision and is supported by the
public. The government could earn up to $400 million in extra tax dollars if
the state were to allow them, but given the social problems created by poker
machines I think it is money that governments should be happy to forgo. Western
Australia is unique in Australia. I have said in this house before that every
time I go to a gambling ministers' conference, 90 per cent of the time
is spent —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : At
the tables!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : — talking about this problem. Good one, member for
Victoria Park! So that members know, even though there are machines at the
Crown casino in Perth, the machines there are not true poker machines. The
minimum spin at Crown Perth is five seconds while the spin ratio for true poker
machines is much faster—in fact, twice as fast. I am trying to speed
up, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Can
the minister spin it to a conclusion.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : This is important, Mr Speaker, because at Crown there is no
auto play, fewer betting options and voluntary pre-commitment. I think this
matter is important to all Western Australians. Gambling is a huge issue and I
want to let the house know that we in Western Australia are in good shape
compared with other states and territories in Australia.
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