As much as half that money came from problem gamblers and their families.

Millions more have been spent on state government-funded research into the detrimental effects poker machines have on individuals, families and communities.

How much more money do we have to pour into poker machines before Labor gets the message that poker machines are destroying our economy, our families, our small businesses and our communities?

There are enough Australian gambling research reports already written to fill the SCG twice over, and still Kevin Rudd and his team say we need to do more research into the extent of the problem poker machines cause before they support any changes to legislation.

How much more research do we need to tell us what we already know?

To stop the destruction changes musts be made to where and how poker machines operate — and changes must be made now.

— SUE PINKERTON,

Duty of Care’s problem gambling research consultant president,

South Australia