ABC News Radio

SUBJECTS: Problem gambling; passage of the mining tax through Parliament

E&OE…… 

Marius Benson: Christopher Pyne, on poker machine laws, Andrew Wilkie says that Tony Abbott’s position that the Opposition will fight it, he finds it not convincing.  He says the commitment from Tony Abbott is ambiguous and not written in blood.  Is the Opposition committed to the stand as outlined by Tony Abbott? 

Christopher Pyne: Well Marius, we have a policy to try and affect problem gambling across the industry whereas Julia Gillard has a policy which is designed to hold onto power.  I think Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon, knowing them as I do, would rather have a policy that affects real change across the whole industry and we want to work with them and everyone in fact to bring that about.  We can’t therefore support a piecemeal approach which unfortunately mandatory pre-commitment is simply one aspect of a whole industry approach and Julia Gillard has been caught in the headlights of wanting to hang onto power rather than wanting to solve a problem. 

Benson: The Financial Review is reporting this morning that Tony Abbott is facing a revolt in ranks of the party on the poker machines issue.  Is that right? 

Pyne: Not that I’m aware of.  I don’t know of anybody in the Liberal Party who believes that mandatory pre-commitment is a solution to problem gambling.  Certainly I and many others think that problem gambling is something that needs to be addressed.  There’s lots of ways of doing that.  Self exclusion policies are working in lots of pubs and clubs across Australia.  The best method to reduce problem gambling is one on one counselling, which Tim Costello is a strong advocate for and I’m an advocate for.  There are measures that can be introduced that should be across the whole industry.  I mean, voluntary pre-commitment is being suggested by clubs, but this mandatory pre-commitment is not a solution. 

Benson: Can I go to another Government initiative which is in discussion today, which is the mining tax?  Colin Barnett, the Western Australia Premier says it’s damaging Australia in the eyes of investors.  You’d agree with that? 

Pyne: No doubt at all. 

Benson: “Actions speak louder than words” is the Government’s response to that claim.  The Government points to a flood of local investment.  In fact in your local paper the Advertiser this morning there’s and article headed, “Mining project, jobs bonanza.  More than 6700 jobs could be created on the Eyre Peninsula by the end of next year by seven new mining projects.”  The Government says there’s no lack of confidence. 

Pyne: Well, let’s hope all of those projects come to fruition and of course if there wasn’t a mining tax, if there wasn’t the uncertainty created by the Labor Party of raising the spectre of sovereign risk in Australia you might find even more jobs being created.  The mining tax is simply a grab for revenue from a Government that is addicted to spending and that mining tax is another measure for them to try and gouge money out of shareholders and mining companies across the country. 

Benson: Is there division on the mining tax in the Coalition ranks though?  Because the West Australian backbencher, Liberal backbencher Mal Washer says that he could potentially support a mining tax if it is reasonable. 

Pyne: Well, I would be very surprised if that happened.  Every Member of Parliament in the Coalition is entitled to express their own views.  It’s one of the strengths of our party that we are not a monolithic political institution and Mal Washer is a good colleague and a good friend, but I’d be very surprised if he supported the mining tax. 

Benson: Christopher Pyne, thank you very much. 

Pyne: It’s a pleasure, Marius

ENDS