Gambling reform needed in 2015

#1015 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 28 Dec 2014.

As the new year approaches, we can all think of individuals and families who are doing it tough, some of them devastated and divided by drug addiction, or family violence, or unemployment, or problem gambling.

On the issue of gambling reform in particular, the NSW government has no excuse for sitting on its hands and following the lead of the powerful clubs and hotels lobby in championing the use of poker machines as revenue raisers.

NSW Council of Churches President Ross Clifford said there were clear recommendations for wide-ranging reform of the gambling industry, and tangible benefits to NSW families, from a report on the gambling industry tabled in the NSW Legislative Council in August this year.

He said he had respectfully encouraged Premier Mike Baird to consider implementing all recommendations in the report to ensure harm minimisation and responsible gambling for the people of this State.

It is to be hoped that 2015 brings NSW families some welcome relief on gambling reform.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.