Wilkie seeks Rudd clarification on poker machine position

ANDREW Wilkie will ask for Kevin Rudd's position on mandatory pre-commitment poker machines.

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ANDREW Wilkie will issue a please explain to Kevin Rudd over claims his chief numbers man told the clubs lobby he would kill off the independent MP's mandatory pre-commitment scheme.

The anti-gambling campaigner, who has flagged his support for Mr Rudd should he become prime minister again, said he would not pre-judge Mr Rudd but would seek an explanation from him.

"I look forward to speaking to him personally in due course," Mr Wilkie said.

However, he noted it was Ms Gillard, not Mr Rudd, who reneged on her commitment to introduce his poker machine reform plan.

Rudd campaigner Alan Griffin, a Victorian backbencher, today admitted he told Clubs Australia last year to lobby independent Bob Katter and then-LNP member Peter Slipper on the issue.

"What I always tell people who come to me about an issue before the parliament is that they need to make the crossbenchers aware of their issue," he told The Australian Online.

"Slipper wasn't on the crossbench at that time but he was certainly regarded as pretty wobbly."

He said he had several meetings with the group, and believed he had also advised it to lobby independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.

However, he denied he ever told the clubs body that Mr Rudd would dump the legislation, as alleged by Clubs Australia's Jeremy Bath.

"No I did not," he said, when pressed on the matter this morning.

Gillard supporters argued the November talks, revealed last night by Network Seven, show Mr Rudd was plotting months ago to take the prime ministership.

But Mr Rudd has denied any knowledge of Mr Griffin's representations to Clubs Australia, and has threatened legal action against Seven.

"(Mr Rudd) has never asked any MP to speak to Clubs Australia at any time on any matter relating to poker machines," his spokeswoman said.

"(He) would consider the publishing of such a claim as defamation, and would take action accordingly."

In a statement to Network Seven, Mr Bath said he and other Clubs Australia representatives met with Mr Griffin last November.

"It was made clear at that meeting that Kevin Rudd was sympathetic to the concerns of clubs and that as prime minister he would kill mandatory pre-commitment.

"Clubs Australia was encouraged to continue the campaign and was advised that we should target a select number of MPs."