The recent Victorian state budget received rave reviews from the social sector on the day it was brought down last month. But how good was it? asks David Hayward in his post-budget analysis for the Victorian Council of Social Service.

IN 2001, poker machine losses in Victoria surged past the $2.3b mark, up almost 10% - or $141m - on the previous year. This growth occurred despite the industry introducing its own Responsible Code of Practice in 1997 and despite the Bracks Labor government introducing a range of new socially responsible gaming policies over the...