Australians Spend More On Gaming Than Food

/ Editor / 12 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

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..?