Monday, October 23, 2006

Concerns are building that an increase in gambling could be the eventual result of the Federal Government's overhaul of media laws. Shortly after the media legislation passed the Senate this week, James Packer announced his PBL company was selling off its media interests, so it could expand further into gambling. Family First Senator Steve Fielding has come under attack from Labor and Nationals politicians, for supporting a Bill which could lead to an increase in gambling. David Yates from the Australian Christian Lobby says it would be very unfortunate if that was the case. "We would be waiting to see in the next few months whether it is going to have any more significant effect, but I think this is showing what Packer's intentions are, and that is a negative thing," he said. Mr Yates says Senator Fielding would be disappointed in any increase in gambling.
"Well his party has got a strong view I think on the gambling, and he would be reasonably upset to see that Packer is going and spending more in that area as well," he said. He says an increase in gambling under any circumstances would be damaging to Australian families. "It's a negative thing, if it's a by-product of the Howard changes on the cross-media ownership well then that's a very unfortunate side effect," he said. "We would strongly urge the Packer family, James in particular, to think about spending more money in areas that would have a beneficial effect on the culture rather than a negative effect."