The news that South Australians spent $6 million more on Pokie machines in the last three months is a real concern.

What makes it worse for gamblers is that eight gambling machines – approved in the last 18 months – pay out less frequently, and this is being kept a secret from the public.

The identities of these games are kept secret for so called commercial sensitivity reasons.

I sought the data via a Freedom of Information request.

Out of a total of 134 games that have been approved since December 2007, eight of these have nominal standard deviations in respect of volatility over 15. In fact the FOI reveals games that have been approved or only tested with deviation rates that go up to 21.

These games have been approved despite the Australia/New Zealand Gaming Machine National Standard, Revision 9 stating the Nominal Standard Deviation of a game must be no more than 15. Revision 9 applies to new games being approved. However the fact that eight games were approved that had deviations over 15 shows that the rules are simply not enforced.

Furthermore, there would be many older SA gambling machines which don’t meet current standards.

Volatility deviations relate to the payouts from the machine. If the deviation is higher the machine pays out higher amounts but less frequently.

While some gamblers receive higher jackpots there is less return to players in between payouts.

Gamblers should be allowed to know which gambling machines pay out less frequently.

Read what I had to tell The Advertiser about the issue by clicking here.

Are there any issues you think I should know about? Are you concerned about crime, health, heritage, education, jobs or public transport in our area? I’m more than happy to speak up on your behalf. Sometimes a bit of pressure from an MP helps gets things fixed.

I’m holding a Local Issues Forum at the Reynella South Kindergarten at 28 Thames Drive, Reynella on Sunday, September 20th from 2-3pm. I hope you’ll come along and share your ideas so we can work together to make this a better place to live.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

I have extensively surveyed local residents about the Government’s $100,000 Seacombe Road painted median scheme. Opinion was evenly divided – for and against the new markings. Some say the risk of crashes, or pedestrians being run over, is as high as ever.

The State Government recently installed the painted median scheme. More than a dozen casualties within a three-year period qualified the road for Commonwealth “Black Spot” funding.

Concerned residents met with Department of Transport officials at my office to voice their concerns. The State Government says painted median strips along Seacombe Road opposite the Seacombe shopping centre will reduce the risk of right turn and rear end crashes by 20-30 per cent, and pedestrian and head on crashes by 50 per cent or more.

But what residents see on the ground tells quite a different story. The new pedestrian refuges near the shops are of particular concern.

Pedestrians walking from Seacombe Gardens and Sturt to the Seacombe Road Shops are at possibly greater risk of being hit by cars. They face traffic not only on both sides of Seacombe Road, but also cars turning from Miller Street, and cars leaving the shopping centre. The fence at the shops exit can obscure motorists’ view of pedestrians at the new mid-road refuge.

There is also significant confusion about how to use the median strips, with many drivers unsure whether they can turn right over the strip to enter and exit their properties.

I think the time has come for traffic lights at the Seacombe Road /Miller Street intersection. We shouldn’t have to wait for a road death before we get a set!

I’m glad residents have now had a chance to have their say – the initial consultation process was not up to scratch.