Wynyard pokies forum calls for better deal for the North-West

Last night’s candidates’ forum at Wynyard’s Wharf hotel, a dedicated pokie-free pub, saw a robust and engaged discussion on poker machines. About 50 people attended the event put on by Rees Campbell for the People Before Pokies group. The audience included local councillors.

The candidates and politicians who attended were asked questions on their parties’ position on gambling reform. They included Braddon candidates Melissa Houghton from the Greens, and Bernard Shaw of the Rise Up Australia Party. Anne Urquhart represented Sid Sidebottom.

Brett Whiteley did not attend and instead sent the Liberals’ policy on gaming.

People Before Pokies member and Greens Senate candidate Helen Burnet, provided information about the group’s position of seeing a $1 bet limit introduced, and a greater say by local councils.

There was a general consensus from the floor that poker machines were not an asset to the local community.

Of particular concern to the forum was the high concentration in the north-west of poker machines, coinciding with the low education and high unemployment rates. With close to half of Tasmania’s machines in pubs and clubs located in the north-west, it was felt that the north-west community was over-represented when it came to pokies and there was a call for a more equitable distribution of the machines.

The large numbers of machines located in the north-west means a significant amount of money is taken out of the community, every day. In the Waratah-Wynyard municipality alone, there is over $450,000 per monthlost on pokies.

It was clear that those who attended last night’s meeting were concerned about the devastating impact pokies have on individuals,families, the community and local economy of the coast. Reforms that could be considered include lowering the cap on numbers of machines in Tasmania, introducing the $1 bet limit, and having more say by local councils as to where pokies are allowed. And a more equitable distribution according to population, rather than revenue raising potential.

Last night several local artists played live music and displayed several pieces of artwork. This contributed to the decoration of the hall, by local artists, poets and photographers and community services students. These were fine examples of alternative activities to gambling.

People Before Pokies Tasmania has been tasked with calling on the government both state and federal to consider introducing a $1 bet limit, consider Tasmania as a trial state as is the National Disability Insurance Scheme has been trialled, and do more to stop the harm before it occurs.

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