Page 4862 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 27 November 2018
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figures—and it is hard to put a human face to them. That is, I think, the strength and power of this report. To put it simply, we have too many machines doing too much damage to too many people with too few limits.
Reducing the number of machines in the ACT is one significant step we can take to start to turn this around. Of course, it is not the only way to reduce harm, and I have spoken before in this place about harm minimisation measures such as $1 bets and mandatory precommitment that are also important parts of a suite of harm reduction approaches. These are changes the Greens will continue to advocate for, but that is not to downplay the potential impact of this legislation and the measures that we are taking today, which will have an impact when it comes to reducing gambling harm.
I also want to note that, while the pathway to 4,000 machines outlines a need for all clubs to reduce their poker machine numbers and provides an incentive for those that wish to go pokies free, the majority of machines will come from the biggest clubs. This is part of an evidence-based approach, as research has clearly established that large venues are associated with relatively high expenditure and greater levels of harm. The average number of poker machines across ACT venues is 93, which is well above that for most other states and territories. The average number of machines in New South Wales venues is 36—broken down, it is 62 in clubs and 15 in hotels—in Victoria it is 53 and in Queensland it is 38. This is not an area where we want to be leading the nation.
What we also know is that problems derived from gambling are often viewed as a source of significant stigma. Gamblers blame their lack of self-control and see themselves as failures. Those affected by a loved one’s gambling are often deeply embarrassed as well as financially imperilled. This makes it difficult for people to articulate their experiences.
I want to be clear that the Greens’ view is that this is an issue of addiction, and it should be treated as such. Blaming the individual is damaging to them and it does not prevent further harm to others in the future. We are lucky in the ACT that a number of people with lived experience have chosen to come forward and tell their stories to help the community fully understand how this issue can affect people. As Mitch, in the Stories of Chance report, said:
The long-term damage problem gambling can cause and the impact it can have on an individual, their family and friends is profound. It can ruin your life and be the start of other problems like substance abuse, violence, crime or even homelessness.
Fewer poker machines in Canberra is one way we can start to reduce this kind of harm, and I am proud that the Greens have led the debate on this important issue.
This bill is also significant for the changes it proposes to the community contributions scheme. Our clubs do a great job of supporting many community organisations, in particular local sport, but it was clear from the Auditor-General’s report that the scheme needed to be reviewed and tightened up to allow us to better understand the exact nature of the expenditure and the community contribution claimed.
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