Extract from The Guardian
That’s a staggering $3,000-plus for every person over the age of 18 in the electorate.
It’s just part of a punting plague that the Crime Commission says sees people in this state tip $95bn into pokies in pubs and clubs.
Putting that number into perspective, the Daily Telegraph reported that NSW punters are losing almost $22m a day, every day, all year – that’s an average of about $900,000 an hour.
Just on pokies.
It’s an unenviable statistic that is of great concern to not just me but to many people right across my electorate. My office is regularly contacted by constituents concerned about the impacts of gambling on individuals and families.
According to Liquor and Gaming NSW, there is roughly one gaming machine for every 13 people in the Murray River area. If that doesn’t frighten you, nothing will.
And it explains why I am standing up in support of some much-needed gambling reform.
We know gambling targets vulnerable and disfranchised people, those who have the least to lose. We know gambling affects the family and intimate relationships. We know gambling causes emotional problems and financial difficulties.
We also know children of gamblers are at a greater risk of becoming gamblers. And we know that, increasingly, evidence is showing a direct correlation between gambling and family violence.
I do acknowledge clubs financially contribute to local groups and projects but in reality, in Murray, only about 2% of this generated revenue ($3.6m out of $185m) is returned directly to the community.
Australia is socialising gambling, which is why all options for reform must be put on the table for discussion, including a cashless card, reduced operating hours, poker machine numbers and independent compliance.
Australia's unshakable gambling addiction, in numbers and charts – video
A conversation about gambling reform must include those people who clean up the collateral damage – those on the frontline dealing with the gamblers themselves and those affected. I have spoken to community groups and the impacts are devastating – high rates of attempted suicide, displacement, mental health problems and domestic violence.
When the premier and the Coalition government called for gambling reform, I agreed.
I am not asking for the poker machine industry to be shut down, nor do I want to see any business close their doors, however the reality remains that ClubsNSW has too many poker machines in operation.
This week Dominic Perrottet declared he won’t be threatened by ClubsNSW into backing down on gambling reform – and neither will I.
But that doesn’t mean I am not willing to meet with clubs in my electorate to discuss this issue.
For the past two months Murray has been smashed by unprecedented flooding and I make no apology for putting the needs of my electorate before ClubsNSW, which has not even deigned to contact my office on this issue.
Disappointingly, it has chosen to launch an unsubstantiated, bullying and personal attack to discredit me, despite other independents and political parties supporting the call for gambling reform.
As a female independent MP in NSW, I won’t be bullied into submission – and I will continue to represent the majority of constituents in the electorate of Murray.
Helen Dalton is the MP for Murray in the NSW parliament
In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found through GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling is on 800-522-4700
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