Australians Spend More On Gambling Than On Food
DID you know that Australians spend far more on gambling than they do on food?
In 2006-07, the land Down Under spent almost AS$91.5 million, or AS$4350 per head, on food, Bureau of Statistics figures say.
But in 2005-06 adults spent AS$148 million - an average of $9491 each - on gambling. These figures do also include tourists, although they, one presumes, eat, too.
Is this because food in Australia is cheap – how much can insects and fizzy urine cost?
But people with a cause interpret the figures differently, and Family First senator Steve Fielding says it shows people are spending too much on gambling.
Says he: “The Rudd Government can halve the number of problem gamblers by supporting Family First’s poker machine plans. This would, over time, get poker machines out of our local clubs and pubs and restrict pokies to racetracks and casinos.”
But are Australians gambling too much? Or eating too little..?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Are they barbying their chips?
June 16th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
If you ever want to see a devastated country…with 6 of 7 states driven to the brink of desperation because of poker machines….visit Australia. In WA where pokies are banned…the people still go out for dinner, go shopping, get hairdos and buy new shoes!
In the rest of the country those businesses are rapidly losing ground…they are trying to vie for the lost dollars while we all must pay the huge price of pokies harms! If our life expectancy has increased because of better eating patterns…what does this report about spending on food say for the future of Australia? It is a damned disgrace and I applaud our Prime Minister for making a stand at last, to limit poker machines…they should be outright banned! Our people are begging for that outcome…but their state governments are too scared to face their own inefficiency that got them hooked on pokies revenue….to the point where our crime and suicide is rising out of control! Take heed UK…and restrict these infernal machines…they will kill all in their path!