Gambling

It is with interest that I've been reading the relationship between Mr Brumby and Mr Paker of late. One the state premier and the other a casino magnate.

Today, suprise, suprise I spotted this quote in The Herald Sun today by Mr Brumby

"John Brumby says more tables at Crown Casino will not impact on problem gambling, before the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation even looks into the social and economic impact of more tables.

The Government has been forced to seek more advice on the impacts of its deal with Crown Casino that will give the gambling giant 150 more tables."

One of my heros, Tim Costello had to say this about the deal a few months back, in The Herald Sun

... the government had "blown a chance'' to make Crown pay for the damage it does to gambling addicts.

"Any other major monopoly that is acknowledged to be doing social damage at the level Crown is would not be treated in this way,'' Mr Costello said.

"The state government exists to act in the interests of the community and instead it does a secret cozy deal that is not transparent.''

He welcomed any move to block the deal in parliament.

"Let them go back and do a deal with Crown that is in the public interest and in the interests of problem gamblers.''

I liked what Paul Keating had to say on QLD politics about the racing industry, "It smells like a dead kangaroo in the middle of the road"