State and Federal Ministers seem to have a lot to say about automatic tellers at gaming venues. Victorian Gaming Minister, John Pandazopoulos, wants the Commonwealth to create a code of conduct for banks, to limit cash withdrawals at ATMs near poker machines. Of course other politicians say that ATMs are a matter for the states.
Gaming Ministers from across Australia will meet in Melbourne with the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce to change this all. So far ATMs have been banned from gambling venues, because large transactions take place on them by addicts. Other leaders think they should be there, but there should be stricter limits on the amount of money that can be withdrawn.
However the Banking Act, which should be in charge of this, has no bearing on where ATMs are put. The Solicitor General has said only the states can decide on their own fates. Limits may make the difference, but those loopholes can be entered. In the mean time the Interchurch suggests no ATMs at all. |
