Five Victorian mayors will join The Alliance for Gambling Reform today on the steps of the Victorian Parliament in a united call for the next Victorian Government to embrace meaningful gambling reform.
The mayors of Darebin, Moreland, Yarra, Whittlesea and Wyndham City Councils joined with Alliance spokesman and director Tim Costello who welcomed the unprecedented commitment of local government leaders to the vital community cause of addressing Australia’s world record levels of gambling harm.
“Councils are at the coal face of gambling harm and are not conflicted by the tax revenue or intimidated by an industry which has exerted way too much power over our major political parties, leaving Australia with the largest per capita gambling losses in the world.”
Mr Costello says “the next Victorian Parliament must show some spine and heart” and address this issue to prevent the needless suicides, family violence, bankruptcy and fraud, which flows when $2.7 billion a year is ripped from the community through addictive poker machines in suburban pubs and clubs.
City of Darebin recently proposed a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council calling on Vision Super to investigate divesting its shares in Woolworths.
Darebin Council also resolved to assist all local clubs and community groups divest themselves from support from poker machines.
Darebin Mayor, Kim Le Cerf, said, “The community harms from poker machines greatly outweigh any perceived benefits.
“The untenable situation is highlighted by AFL clubs now starting to eliminate these highly dangerous and addictive machines.
“In Darebin, poker machines strip $81million per year mostly from our disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
“They are responsible for growing levels of inter-generational poverty that both major parties continue to ignore.
“As community leaders we want reform. We call on the State Government and opposition parties to commit to $1 maximum bets, clamp down on losses disguised as wins and reduce venue opening hours.”
The Darebin community lost $81million in 12 venues in 2016-17.
