I hope that Andrew Wilkie won't himself be a turncoat to Julia once he gets all what he wants out of her... but the possibility is still there.... Meanwhile:

It can't be too long before Tony Abbott promises free beer, three months' annual leave on full pay and poker machines on every street corner. That should increase his approval rating even further in this sad country.

Malcolm Tester Lennox Head

 

Tony Abbott sought to win over the pro-pokie crowd at Campbelltown by telling them that if he were in government he ''predicts'' he would rescind the pre-commitment legislation. Are Abbott and his party now so allergic to policy that he is using a crystal ball to ''predict'' what they might do if they win government?

Mark Pearce Richmond

 

Andrew Wilkie should be worried when Tony Abbott describes him as an ''honourable man'' as the Opposition Leader clearly sees him as a potential Brutus.

Mr Abbott says the present laws on poker-machine gambling do not need any change and predicts his party will rescind any legislation the government might pass. At the same time he needs to avoid annoying Andrew Wilkie.

It's very hard being a populist and saying what the audience of the day wants to hear.

James Moore Kingsgrove

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/sharpen-that-axe-and-start-chopping-premier-20111026-1mjzr.html#ixzz1bvawYGhI

Independent senator Nick Xenophon is demanding an explanation from Channel Nine about its involvement in the fight against the Government's changes to poker machine laws.

News Limited has published a letter from Channel Nine managing director Jeffrey Browne to the St George Illawarra Rugby League club in which he says Channel Nine would like to assist the club in its campaign against the changes.

The reform, proposed by independent MP Andrew Wilkie and adopted by the Government, would make poker machine players set the amount of money they are willing to lose when playing on high intensity poker machines.

In the letter, Mr Browne says the network wants to ensure a properly informed debate and invites the club to give examples of its community contributions which Nine could highlight during its NRL coverage.

Last month Channel Nine commentators Ray Warren and Phil Gould criticised the proposed mandatory pre-commitment laws for poker machines during coverage of an NRL semi-final.

Channel Nine initially said they were expressing their own opinions, but later changed tack and said the comments did reflect the network's view.

Mr Wilkie and Senator Xenophon lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over Channel Nine's conduct, saying the comments amounted to political advertising.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/xenophon-questions-channel-nine-pokies-stance/3602902?WT.svl=news2

Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd has again refused to buy into the poker machine debate, a move that will further push opposition claims that he is manoeuvring for the leadership.

Asked this morning for his view on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's pledge to repeal mandatory pre-commitment technology on poker machines should it be introduced, Mr Rudd said he was too busy with the affairs of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to engage.

"It may be of surprise to you but I haven't followed every detail of what Mr Abbott has said, or read his transcripts, nor do I choose to engage in that debate here and now," Mr Rudd said in Perth.

"I've got plenty of other things on my mind as the Foreign Minister of Australia. That debate can be had elsewhere."

Yesterday, the morning after Mr Abbott made his pledge, Mr Rudd declined to comment, prompting Mr Abbott to claim it was part of Mr Rudd's leadership ambitions.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/rudds-pokies-silence-fuels-further-leadership-talk-20111027-1ml9a.html#ixzz1bwvWRU3F

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Rudd would have to know that should he speak ill of whatever is happening in the Labor government, he would end up on his arse quick smart... He might think it could be okay for him to do so, but he would be letting the country down big time... Journos should start fishing in another pond... What is Malcolm plotting at the moment or is still meek and toothless, like the lion in "The Wizard Of Oz"?

Crown Casino chairman James Packer has joined the likes of the NRL and Clubs Australia in attacking independent MP Andrew Wilkie's proposed poker machine reforms.

Mr Packer told shareholders at Crown's annual general meeting in Melbourne that asking poker machine players to pre-register and set limits on how much they gambled would not stop people from setting high limits.

He said there was no evidence mandatory pre-commitment would help combat problem gambling.

He said the reforms would also damage tourism because casual players and international visitors would not queue for registration.

"There is no evidence that introducing mandatory pre-commitment or introducing a $1 maximum bet will be effective in tackling problem gambling, but it will hurt recreational players and that will cost jobs and investment across the industry," Mr Packer said.

At the meeting, Mr Packer highlighted the number of initiatives that Crown Casino had put in place to address problem gambling, saying "no-one in this country" had done more to address the issue.

"Crown introduced the first voluntary pre-commitment scheme in the casino industry in the world (Play Safe) in 2002 at Crown Melbourne whereby our loyalty program members can elect to set a daily expenditure limit and/or time limit on their gaming machine play," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/packer-joins-ranks-against-pokies-reform/3603758?WT.svl=news1

 

Brickbats from James? — a compliment to Wilkie's who would know about "Play Safe" of course...

Dissatisfaction with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott hit a record high as Federal Labor's primary vote staged a comeback in the latest opinion poll.

The Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper shows Labor's primary vote is up three points to 32 per cent and has now climbed seven points from its record low of 26 per cent seven weeks ago.

The Coalition's primary vote is down one point to 44 per cent, with the Greens down three points to 12 per cent.

On a two-party preferred basis, the Coalition lost one point, but is still ahead of Labor 53 to 47 per cent.

Dissatisfaction with the job performance of Mr Abbott is up two points to 57 per cent, with 34 per cent satisfied.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-08/labor-primary-vote-up/3651310?WT.svl=news2

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The people satisfied with Tony Abbott include all the ritewingnutterers, all the creationist loonies, the anti-evolution gits, the rich gold diggers, the memory-lapsing retirees who have nothing better to do than to listen to Alan Jones and, of course, George Pell... Enough to make democracy sick...