Don’t scratch NSW lottery moratorium

#1029 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 1 Feb 2015

The NSW Council of Churches has urged state politicians to extend a moratorium restricting the sale of lottery tickets to newsagents and convenience stores.

Council President, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, said “Regardless of who governs NSW after the March 28 election, in the interests of harm minimisation and public health, the sale of lottery tickets should not be extended to large supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths, or to fuel retail outlets.”

Lifting the moratorium is bad for small business, with up to 1500 newsagents facing the prospect of bankruptcy, and especially bad for problem gamblers who would face the challenge of having to decide whether to spend money on lottery tickets or food for their family.

The five-year moratorium, due to expire on April 1, was included in legislation for a 40-year lease of NSW Lotteries to the Tatts Group in 2010, giving newsagents time to adjust to expected competition from large retailers.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches