Prime Minister Gillard has already spent $754,160 to test the pokies tax pre-commitment policy including one allocation of $278,850 for market research to "test problem gambling creative concepts" and another $475,310 was spent to "assess the need for communications activities that may be necessary in the introduction of the Australian government-proposed gambling reforms.

Minister for Families and Community Services, Jenny Macklin says that bringing in these changes is no easy task but it is necessary if we are to provide the duty of care we owe thousands of individuals and families whose lives are being ruined by problem gambling.

The Productivity Commission estimates that there are between 80,000 and 160,000 problem gamblers. In addition there are between 230,000 and 350,000 people at moderate risk.

The Deutsche Bank has predicted that the damage of the Wilkie reforms will be a financial wipeout for clubs and pubs. Their report predicts gaming revenue will be reduced by between 30-40%. Further, the Deutsche Bank report predicts the installation cost of the nation’s 200,000 poker machines and linking them to a national database at up to $5 billion.

Executive Director of ClubsAustralia Anthony Ball said the Deutsche Bank analysis of mandatory pre-commitment confirms industry warnings that the as yet untested technology will reduce club revenue by 40%.

Clubs and hotels employ more than 180,000 people directly. Tens of thousands more are employed through sectors such as food, cleaning, security and tourism that won’t have a job if local clubs and pubs no longer exist.

The anti-gambling lobby regularly claims that poker machines damage the community. The Productivity Commission looked at this issue and calculated that after considering the impact of problem gambling, poker machines deliver a net benefit to the community of between $768 million and $5.5 billion a year.

The Braidwood Services Club has 23 poker machines that will not take the mandatory pre-commitment card system; meaning that the Club will have to pay for replacement machines and a computer system to report back to the government’s national database. The impact of this cost on the Club would be too great to bear and the new pokie policy could mean that the Braidwood Services Club could be closing their doors forever in four years; if we do not act as a community now.

This legislation effectively absolves individuals of their gambling responsibilities and penalises clubs and pubs and the people in small regional communities who rely upon the services and support of Clubs.

Peter Cook, General Manager of Eden Fishermen’s Club and the Eden Gardens Country Club, is coordinating the Braidwood Rally and has organised buses from Eden to Braidwood for local club members to be a part of the rally at a central location in Eden Monaro.

Peter said “We’ll be gathering at the corner of Lascelles Street and Wallace Street Braidwood at 11am and walking up the main street to the park. We’ll be carrying placards and voicing our opposition to the ‘license to punt’. We are hoping to get the message out that this legislation hasn’t been thought through properly and that it spells the end of regional clubs as we know them.

“Clubs NSW has been fighting the reform tooth and nail, alleging that they will force many clubs to close thereby robbing communities of the facilities and services the clubs provide.

“If this ill-conceived legislation goes ahead, ultimately it will be the members and the community who will lose their services, lose their bowling greens and lose their meeting places if mandatory pre-commitment is introduced.

With around 45 licensed clubs in the Eden-Monaro electorate, Peter Cook is hoping that over 2000 people will join the rally, along with Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly.

Mr Cook said that “Mr Kelly’s common sense approach to this matter has been well received by all the clubs and their communities across Eden Monaro.”

Mr Cook also pointed out that “The Deutsche Bank’s prediction will downgrade the financial ratings of clubs and pubs and other banks will follow their lead. This will reduce of approvals for clubs and pubs to be able to borrow the money to implement the changes.

“ClubsAustralia and the NSW State Government, since 2003, have reduced problem gambling in NSW from 0.8% to 0.4% which we believe is a great result and we look forward to working on the problems associated with problem gambling to further reduce the number of people affected.

“With the Wilkie proposal problem gamblers will be able to find a way around this legislation by using someone else’s card or by setting unrealistic limits.”

Some of Australia’s leading gambling academics have indicated mandatory pre-commitment will not achieve a reduction in the rate of problem gambling. One of the only mechanisms to assist problem gamblers is counselling.

Of real concern are the costs of the reform, especially the technology needed to track gamblers across all poker machines to ensure they stay under a self-determined gambling cap, and the inconvenience factor of having to sign-up to use club pokies, expected by the clubs, to so inconvenience social gamblers that they will choose not to gamble at all

Several members of the State and Federal Parliaments and the Media have been invited to attend the Rally and Member for Monaro, John Barilaro, has confirmed his attendance.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has threatened to withdraw his support for the government, forcing an election, if the new laws are not introduced by 2014. Without his support, Ms Gillard’s slim majority could fail and the government forced to an early federal election.

To show your support to the Braidwood Services Club join the Rally on Wednesday or write to the Federal Member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly to oppose this proposed legislation.