Greens party push to remove poker machines from SA pubs and clubs within five years

POKIES would vanish from pubs and clubs within five years under a plan by the Greens aimed at stealing territory from the original No Pokies MP, Nick Xenophon.

Former pokie addict Sharon Hollamby at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel. AAP image/MIKE BURTON

• #Engage4Change: Parties must lift game or lose female votes

POKIES would vanish from pubs and clubs within five years under a plan by the Greens that steals ground from the original No Pokies MP, Nick Xenophon.

Launching her party’s election campaign on Saturday, Greens MP Tammy Franks criticised Mr Xenophon for failing to rid the state of the machines he launched his political career fighting.

Mr Xenophon responded by flagging that he would release his pokies policy within days.

The popular SA Best leader entered State Parliament in 1997 on a No Pokies platform.

Returning to contest the March state election after a stint as a Senator for SA, Mr Xenophon has faced criticism that he never achieved his promise to voters.

“Where’s the No Pokies policy Nick?” Ms Franks questioned. “You came to the South Australian Parliament 20 years ago. You had one job. You haven’t done it yet.

“We do not need pokies in our pubs and clubs in our state.”

SA Greens MP Tammy has criticised Nick Xenophon for failing to rid the state of the machines.

Former pokies addict Sharon Hollamby, 58, said she lost her house, husband and children, “an awful lost of money and my self respect” because of her addiction.

“While they (poker machines) are on every street corner like they are ... you’re just going to have the problem. We need to confine them to the casino,” she said.

Under the Greens policy, the machines would remain in the CBD casino.

The ban plan has drawn criticism from hoteliers who warn of large scale job losses.

Mr Xenophon said SA Best would release its pokies policy “in the next few days”.

“Unlike the Greens’ policies we’ll have them costed, dealing with issues of employment impacts and transition arrangements so we can make it work and get community support for those changes,” he said.

Former No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon.

Mr Xenophon added that his party would “tackle online gambling head-on”.

“SA Best will be the only party that can deliver … in terms of one dollar bets, in terms of online gambling reforms … and also in reducing machine numbers in a way that will slash poker machine addiction,” he said.

Mr Xenophon also flagged that he would announce more candidates this week.

He has so far named 18 candidates in a mix of Labor and Liberal-held seats and the Upper House.

Australian Conservatives Leader Cory Bernardi, formerly a member of the federal Liberal Party, has revealed he intends to run candidates in 20 Lower House seats at the state election, including in Hartley where Mr Xenophon is vying for election.