8th November, 2011

A Christian association of doctors and dentists has urged the Federal Parliament not to "water down" proposed reforms to tackle problem gambling, including a pre-commitment scheme which would see gamblers setting time and money limits before playing poker machines.

The Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia (CMDFA) - which represents more than 600 Australian doctors, dentists and health workers - says it is "deeply concerned" about the number of people with gambling problems in Australia - a figure estimated to be around 90,000 people.

In a statement the organisation said the effects of problem gambling - which extend beyond the individual - can include depression, relationship breakdown, bankruptcy, lowered productivity, job loss, suicide and criminal behaviour with society's most vulnerable, including the poor, women and children, among those most affected. It says that for every problem gambler an additional five to 10 people are adversely affected by their gambling.

Dr Michael Burke, executive officer of the CMDFA, describes problem gambling as a "serious public health issue".

As well as stress-related physical and psychological illnesses, he says problem gambling may lead to an inability to afford the basic necessities of life including food, housing, transport and medication.

"Doctors are regularly see the effects of problem gambling in the lives of their patients," Dr Burke says.

The CMDFA is urging parliament to resist lobbying by those who wish to water down the proposed reforms such as the pre-commitment scheme. It says that such a strategy can help problem gamblers and would be a "key component" in addressing the adverse outcomes of problem gambling.

Last week, the Australian Christian Lobby urged a mandatory pre-commitment scheme not to be dismissed without a trial. The ACL's managing director, Jim Wallace, said it was important for the government to act on the issue with 95,000 poker machine users classed as problem gamblers losing $5 billion a year.

~ www.cmdfa.org.au

~ www.acl.org.au

- DAVID ADAMS