Australian treasurer wants fewer poker machines

Australias treasurer, Peter Costello, says he would like to see fewer poker machines across the nation.

Earlier this week, the leader of the opposition Labor party, Kevin Rudd, criticised state Labor governments for depending too heavily on poker machine revenue.

Mr Costello says it is an issue that needs to be addressed.

"I regret that we have so many poker machines in Australia. Id like to see less," he said.

"And I think that governments have to work together to address this problem - gambling phenomenon.

"People are losing homes, jobs, families because essentially they have an addiction."

2007-09-17