Hartland moves to restore democracy on Whitten Oval development
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Footy Teams Funded by Pokies are "Losers"
27-02-2008 Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has spoken out in Parliament against football teams using pokies machines to raise funds, after Monday night's decision by Melton Shire to approve an application for the Hawthorn Football Club and Tattersalls to "stab 80 pokies machines into the heart of Caroline Springs".
"The applicants offered $155,000 to the community in return for the machines. But on my calculation, the machines will suck about ten million dollars a year out of the community," said Colleen Hartland.
"This has got to be the worst deal in history."
"Caroline Springs also has the Collingwood Football club at its front entrance, with 60 machines."
"Ten Victorian AFL clubs operate 18 venues, with 1,191 pokies machines between them. It will now be 1,271."
"Do footy fans really want their clubs to be funded by family break down, crime, lost homes and ruined dreams?"
"The residents of Edgewater, in Maribyrnong, have banded together to fight a proposal for a 3am gambling licence for the Western Bulldogs. I give them my full support. I urge Maribyrnong Council to stand up and say 'No' to the proposal. They have a long history of opposing pokies and standing up for the community."
"I don't care if a team wins the Grand Final. They're losers if their pay packets come from pokies."