An impassioned call has been made to "leave Anzac Day alone", following a failed bid by some New South Wales MPs to ban poker machines being played on the sacred day.
The attempted ban has been described as a "political stunt" by Shadow Gaming Minister and Nationals MP Kevin Anderson, who says reforms such as moving to a cashless gaming system offer better solutions to gambling addiction.
Independent member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, yesterday spearheaded the proposed amendment to the retail trading legislation, which would force pubs and clubs to close their gaming rooms on Anzac Day.
Greenwich insisted the proposed ban would not include the traditional game of two-up.
But it failed when the Labor government and the Coalition voted against it.
Anderson said the move, supported by a group of independent and Greens MPs, tried to politicise the sacred day for veterans.
"The Member for Sydney's amendment to the government's Anzac Day Trading Hours Bill is nothing more than a political stunt.
"There is no evidence to suggest switching off poker machines for one afternoon would haveany positive impact in addressing problem gambling."
Nearly $8 billion is lost to poker machines every year in NSW.
There are about 87,000 poker machines in operation across the state, according to Wesley Mission.
The Minns government is due to report in November on a cashless gaming trial in clubs across the state.
But the Coalition claims the trial has only been rolled out at three of the 27 venues involved in the trial.
"With that deadline just three months away, there's growing frustration and angst around whenwe will see real action," said Anderson.
"Our veterans don't deserve to be used as a political football, and the Greens and Independents should be directing their frustrations at the Government.
"Leave Anzac Dayalone."
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