Gambling Bill a disappointment and an embarrassment

Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau

Wednesday 4 September 2013

“I’m disappointed in the final version of the Gambling Bill and a little embarrassed for Te Ururoa,” said Hone Harawira, MANA leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau, following the third and final reading of Te Ururoa Flavell’s Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill in Parliament this evening.

“Anti-gambling groups and whānau were really keen when the Bill first came in,” said Harawira “because it was going to cut back on the number of pokies in poor neighbourhoods, and keep any pokies money in their communities rather than let it go to the rich clubs on the other side of town.”

“But the final Bill doesn’t look anything like that. National stripped out all the good bits and left Te Ururoa with bugger all.”

“Te Ururoa will be bummed out, and I feel sorry for him,” said Harawira. “The Greens and Labour put in 18 amendments to try to fix it up, but National squashed them all.”

“I supported the Bill at first reading but I just couldn’t bring myself to support it into legislation. There’ve been too many changes and they’ve all been for the worse.”

ENDS

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