SOUTH Australian Treasurer Kevin Foley has declared himself pro-poker machines as he today laughed off footage posted on the internet of him singing The Gambler at a karaoke bar.
But Mr Foley's admission that he was in favour of gambling and that pokie addiction only affected some people drew a swift rebuke from Nick Xenophon, a South Australian senator and anti-gambling campaigner.
“Kevin Foley's spruiking for the pokie barons is more embarrassing than his karaoke rendition of The Gambler,” Senator Xenophon said today.
“As almost eight years as SA Treasurer, Kevin still doesn't get it. More than 50 per cent of pokie revenue comes from the addicted. This is an industry that destroys lives and causes immeasurable grief to the families of problem gamblers.”
Mr Foley, who also is the Deputy Premier in the Rann government which seeks re-election in two months, was yesterday defending his right to party late at night with friends when he made his comments about gambling.
As revealed by The Australian website on Monday, footage of Mr Foley singing the 1978 Kenny Rogers classic The Gambler in the early hours of last Saturday morning was filmed on a mobile phone by 23-year-old Romi Graham, who was in the La Sing Karaoke Restaurant, in a popular Adelaide entertainment strip, and posted on YouTube.
“I am allowed to go out, I am a single guy, with a bunch of friends,” Mr Foley told reporters today.
Asked about his choice of a song about gambling, Mr Foley said he was “pro-pokies”.
“I have always been a liberal when it comes to supporting poker machines and gambling,” he said.
“Poker machines are a legal activity in this state, one that brings enjoyment to many people. There are some who clearly have trouble with their gambling addiction and there are services availaible to deal with them.”
But Senator Xenophon said the seriousness of the problem was highlighted by a talkback caller to ABC radio this morning who told of how his friend, a problem gambler, had committed suicide.
“As a state Treasurer, Mr Foley's problem is he is a number one jackpot junkie when it comes to the revenue raked in from pokie machines. He doesn't get it,” Senator Xenophon said.
“He needs a reality check and to speak to the people whose lives have been destroyed by poker machines.
“His comments reinforce that states can't be trusted to do the right thing on pokie regulation.”
Issued by The Australian 19th January 2010
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/gambler-kevin-foley-backs-poker-machines/story-e6frg6nf-1225821358151
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