Have your say: do you support a mandatory limit on pokie machines?
An independent MP whose vote is crucial to pass federal poker machine reforms is on a jungle trek in Malaysia sponsored by Clubs Australia.
Rob Oakeshott, Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare and Liberal MP Scott Morrison are leading 12 students from their electorates on the 10-day Sandakan Mateship Trek, commemorating the infamous Sandakan death march in World War II.
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Mr Oakeshott has paid his own way but the MP is being heavily lobbied by the pubs and hotels industry, The Age newspaper reports.
Clubs Australia is a co-sponsor of the trek, and one of the main lobby groups behind a $20 million campaign against pokies reform.
The indepedent's vote will be vital if the Gillard government is to pass the tougher laws targeting poker machines and problem gambling proposed by Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie.
Fellow independent Tony Windsor said on Thursday he was unlikely to support the move as it would wipe out country clubs, while Mr Oakeshott has told clubs in his electorate he wouldn't do anything to harm their business.
