Gambling reform
NSW must start treating gambling as a health issue not a revenue tap. We need to reduce the levels of gambling in our community and end political donations from pubs and hotels to the major parties. Both Labor and the Liberals have been voting together to expand gambling for years. Reform is long overdue.
The Greens are campaigning for the NSW government and Opposition to
support a Gambling Summit to allow experts, politicians and the
community to bring forward a public health plan to deal with the
growing gambling crisis.
A Gambling Summit is urgently
needed in NSW to consider issues such as the negative impacts of
gambling, the conflict of interest between politicians and gambling
proponents, and what limits should be placed on the gambling industry.
The Greens have called on the Labor Governemnt call a Summit
empowered to bring forward recommendations on gambling. NSW Labor has
called summits on drugs, alcohol and obesity so there is no reason to
not hold one on gambling. It is time Premier Rees and Opposition
leader Barry O'Farrell caught up with public opinion and addressed
rising community concerns about the increase in gambling and the
associated problems.
Mr O'Farrell along with Premier Rees has
to accept responsibility for NSW being tagged the gambling state.
Liberal and National MPs in the NSW parliament have
consistently supported the Labor government in weakening licensing laws
and increasing the number of gaming machines. In the period that Labor
and the Coalition have supported these changes that favour the gambling
industry they have accepted massive donations from the hotel and club
bodies.
Hotels and the Australian Hotels Association donated
more than $2.9 million to NSW Labor between 1998-9 and 2004-5. In the
same period the Liberals and National parties received more that $1.3
million. NSW Clubs donated $950,000 to NSW Labor and $135,000 to the
Coalition over the same seven year period.
In 2007 the Greens hosted a Gambling forum at NSW Parliament House that featured the following speakers:
- Dr Gary Moore, ex Director of NSW Council of Social Service ... read speech
- Kate Roberts, Chairperson, Gambling Impact Society (NSW)
- Rev Harry Herbert, Uniting Care, and Chair and Trustee of the Responsible Gambling Fund
Read Lee's media release.
Supporters for a Gambling Summit to be held in Sydney include:
- Rev Harry Herbert, Uniting Care, and Chair and Trustee of the Responsible Gambling Fund
- Pat Daley, Spokesperson, Salvation Army
- Linda Frow, A/Director, Council of Social Service of NSW
- Peter Kell, Chief Executive, CHOICE (Australian Consumers Association)
- Gary Moore, ex Director of NSW Council of Social Service
- Genia McCaffery, President, Local Government and Shires Association
- Dr Clive Allcock, psychiatrist, Senior Clinical Lecturer at Department of Psychology Sydney University, founder of NSW Council of Problem Gambling
- Allison Johnson, Manager of Financial and Gambling Counselling and Legal Service, Wesley Mission
- Richard Spencer, CEO, Benevolent Society
- Sue
Pinkerton, President, Duty of Care Inc – national not-for-profit
consumer advocate representing people harmed by gaming machines
- Kate Roberts, Chairperson, Gambling Impact Society (NSW)
- Chris Davidson, Manager, Central Coast Problem Gambling Service
- Mr Ashley Gordon President Hunter Council on Problem Gambling
- John Stansfield, CEO Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
