By Paul Dunlop
POKER machine numbers in Cardinia Shire could soon rise dramatically, MP Edward O’Donohue has warned.
Mr O’Donohue, the Upper House Member for Eastern Victoria Region, spoke out in Parliament against the State Government policy, which he said could see extra 240 electronic gaming machines in Cardinia.
Mr O’Donohue said Labor’s policy to cap pokie numbers in some local government areas — including the nearby City of Casey — meant uncapped areas such as Cardinia Shire would be targeted to accept more pokies.
As previously reported in the Gazette, plans are on the drawing board for new venues or expansion of existing venues in Pakenham and possibly other centres.
Mr O’Donohue said the caps policy should be reviewed.
“Currently, the Shire of Cardinia has 4.69 machines per 1000 residents. Under Labor’s policy Cardinia Shire faces a potential increase of up to 240 machines,” he said.
Pakenham is the only town in Cardinia Shire with pokies. There are about 200 machines spread around four venues.
Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation figures put the town’s electronic gaming machine turnover at more than $15 million every year.
Cardinia mayor Kate Lempriere has previously expressed concern about the number of poker machines in Pakenham and the effect they were having on some people in the community.
But Cardinia residents are well below their counterparts in the City of Casey where a whopping $100 million — or more than $8 million a month — is poured into 879 machines across a dozen venues.
The City of Casey is just outside a list of the top 10 city municipalities worst affected by gambling.
The State Government said when it introduced the new regional caps policy, which limits machines to a maximum of 10 per 1000 adults, that it created the right balance.
Premier Steve Bracks said the new machine limits showed his government was committed to acting on problem gambling and providing an environment where people could gamble responsibly.