Problem Gambling
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Gaming and Racing. Is the Minister aware of endemic poker machine gambling in south-west Sydney, with some families in Fairfield spending a staggering three-quarters of their disposable income each year on gambling, and that $1.5 billion is lost each year in Sydney’s west on gambling? Is the Minister aware that suburbs with gambling addiction rated as the highest, such as Bankstown, Canterbury, Ashfield, Auburn, Fairfield, Marrickville, Burwood and Penrith, are the same neighbourhoods in which last year record numbers of homes were repossessed and in which some of the State’s richest hotels were collecting approximately $200,000 per poker machine? Given the strong public opinion and rising community concerns about gambling and its negative ramifications on working-class families, when will the New South Wales Government declare a strategic approach to gambling addiction and hold a statewide gambling summit to show its commitment to solving this growing crisis?
The Hon. Ian Macdonald: I will relay the question to the appropriate Minister and get an expeditious response.
Deferred answer
On 3 June 2008 Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes asked the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Gambling and Racing, a question without notice regarding gambling. The Minister for Gambling and Racing provided the following response:
The Government recognises that many local communities have higher than average number of gaming machines and that they do not want or need any more.
A range of reforms were announced by the Government on 7 December 2007.
As part of the reforms there will be a further reduction in poker machine numbers over time and gaming venues located in areas with a higher than average poker machine density and expenditure, and with lower than average socio-economic data and a high number of problem gamblers, will find it extremely difficult to obtain approval for additional gaming machines.
It is expected that the suburbs which are listed in your question—Bankstown, Canterbury, Ashfield, Auburn, Fairfield, Marrickville, Burwood and Penrith—will be in this category.
These announced reforms, together with awareness campaigns such as the recently launched the $1.8million ‘Gambling Hangover’ campaign to target young men and the Problem Gambling Roundtable to be hosted by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing on 17 July involving 35 representatives from the sector to develop a strategic partnership, show the Government’s continuing commitment to reduce harm associated with problem gambling.
