Poker machines will stay open on Anzac Day even though big supermarkets won't. Crossbenchers are pushing for the one-day pokie ban in state parliament, but the government and coalition are combining to slap it down.
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00:00On the hallowed turf of the Sydney Football Stadium, the Premier came to show off his
00:07skills. But in September, this field will host the inaugural Emergency Services Rugby
00:12League match, a chance for crowds to cheer on competitors doing some of the toughest
00:17jobs.
00:18Our emergency service workers are heroes, quite genuinely.
00:22Honouring sacrifice is something the Premier's put high on his agenda. He's already proposed
00:27a ban on the big supermarkets opening on Anzac Day. But when it comes to poker machines,
00:33people can go for gold.
00:35People do gamble on Anzac Day. That has been part of the tradition for a long period of
00:40time.
00:41Honestly, Chris means if you want to honour diggers, how about shutting down those pokies?
00:47They're addictive, they're isolating.
00:50A group of crossbench MPs wants to amend the government's Anzac trading legislation, preserving
00:55traditions like two-up, while switching the biggest money spinners off.
01:02If Coles has to close on Anzac Day, so should the poker machines that cause so much harm.
01:09The crossbenchers could have forced the government's hand with the support of the opposition, but
01:14before the amendment even made it to Parliament, the Coalition shut it down.
01:18They are going to become a coalition of cowards when it comes to taking on poker machines.
01:25What I say to Mr Greenwich is, don't engage in the stunts, work with the opposition and
01:29the government to that matter, to actually have workable gambling reform.
01:36A cashless gaming trial is underway, but so far just 13 venues are on board.