As stated by Asta Hill:
Minimising gambling harms should be the first priority in gambling policy. Research from Menzies School of Health Research conservatively puts the social cost of gambling in the NT at $190 million per year. And yet, the companies who profit from this industry dominate the negotiating table, while experts in reducing gambling harms through regulation are shut out.
The question must be asked - if No New Pokies Mparntwe, a grass-roots campaign run by a handful of volunteers, is able to consult with a large number of researchers, academics and other experts in gambling harms - why can't the Territory Government? This is a feeble attempt to regulate a multi-billion dollar industry.
In the last 12 months NT Labor has accepted political donations from the gambling industry. Political influence comes cheap and easy in the Northern Territory.
The NT Greens urge the Labor government to apply the brakes now and commit to conducting rigorous open consultation with all relevant experts and the broader public. There is too much at stake to make a mockery of this law making process.
By better regulating and taxing this $50 billion industry we can reduce harm and grow our tax revenue base to fund initiatives that actually improve the health and wellbeing of Territorians.
