A welcome step. NSW Labor has the platform – now Premier Minns must act on the reforms that prevent gambling harm Wesley Mission welcomes the new gambling reform platform adopted at the NSW Labor State Conference as a step forward towards desperately needed gambling reform, but warns it still falls short of the reforms proven to prevent poker machine harm.
The new platform binds Labor to several important measures that Wesley Mission has long advocated for, including the implementation of a statewide exclusion register, a moratorium on new gaming machine entitlements, ending VIP programs, higher taxes on the largest clubs, reductions in poker machine numbers, and greater data transparency.
However, Wesley Mission says the package stops short of real commitment to the two reforms that will have the greatest impact on reducing and preventing gambling harm:
- the urgent introduction of a mandatory, statewide account-based (carded) play system with built-in harm minimisation measures, including default loss limits and breaks in play
- a mandatory statewide poker machine shutdown between midnight and 10am
A step forward, but two reforms are still missing Wesley Mission CEO and Superintendent, Rev Stu Cameron, says today's motion is welcome, but NSW must now deliver the reforms that matter most.
"The new platform adopted at the NSW Labor State Conference is a step forward and we welcome it. However, good intentions do not reduce gambling harm, good laws do. Laws that enact harm prevention measures proportionate to the pandemic of gambling harm experienced in our state.
"If we are serious about preventing gambling harm, we must act on when the harm is worst and use the technology that can stop it. Overnight is when some of the greatest damage is done. That is why we need a mandatory midnight-to-10am shutdown and mandatory carded play, with built-in protections that can reduce harm across every hour the machines are on."
Rev Cameron says the research has pointed to these reforms for years.
"The debate about what works is settled. The evidence is in. The question now is whether the Minns government has the courage to act on it."
Statewide, overnight shutdowns
Rev Cameron says the proposal to review shutdown hours risks delaying the introduction of reforms that are already well evidenced.
"The tens of thousands of families impacted by gambling harm do not need another review. They need to go to sleep at night knowing their loved one is not losing everything at three o'clock in the morning."
Mandatory, statewide account-based play Wesley Mission says account-based gambling will only deliver meaningful harm reduction if it is mandatory and includes default protections.
"A voluntary system protects the people who least need protecting. Carded play only works in reducing and preventing harm when everyone plays by the same rules and everyone has the same protections." Tax treatment of clubs.
Wesley Mission welcomes the new platform's requirement that clubs with annual gaming machine profits of more than $20 million pay more tax.
"For too long NSW clubs and pubs have drained billions from the pockets of NSW residents while paying some of the lowest gaming tax rates in Australia. If gaming tax rates on poker machines were the same as in Victoria, around $1.5 billion* additional taxes would flow into government coffers every year. That would pay for a lot of schools, hospitals and public infrastructure – as well as fund additional gambling harm support services."
Facial Recognition Technology. Wesley Mission also reiterates its opposition to mandatory facial recognition technology as a primary harm minimisation tool.
"The answer is not more surveillance. The answer is stronger safeguards that stop harm before it happens. Mandatory carded play linked to a statewide exclusion register is more effective, less intrusive and better protects people's privacy."
Next Steps
Rev Cameron says Wesley Mission acknowledges the Government's willingness to move the reform agenda forward and will continue working constructively to strengthen the package.
Rev Cameron thanked the Labor members who drove the motion.
"We're grateful for the leadership of Mark Morey and Darcy Byrne and the many rank-and-file Labor members, in demanding the NSW parliamentary party do more and sooner, on poker machine harm."
"Today's motion is a positive step and we welcome it. NSW is still two critical steps short of where it needs to be. We stand ready to work with the Government to finish the job."
