Labor must not Stand in the Way of a Cashless Gambling Card: GREENS
The Premier’s commitment to implementing a cashless gambling card is an opportunity for multi-partisan gambling reform but is being blocked by NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns, said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and gambling spokesperson.
“With the Premier’s commitment to implementing a gambling card there is now only one thing standing in the way of genuine gambling reform in this state and that’s Chris Minns and the Labor Party,” said Cate Faehrmann.
“We have a unique opportunity, right now, for all parties to stand united together against pressure from the industry and enact gambling reform that will significantly reduce gambling harm and improve the lives of so many people in NSW. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see the Labor Party siding with the industry at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in this state.
“The Labor party can’t claim to be the party that stands up for working people if they’re going to abandon communities like Bankstown and Fairfield, which lose significantly more money to poker machines, to keep ClubsNSW happy.
“It’s no secret that ClubsNSW has its hands around the neck of the major parties. I wouldn’t be surprised if threats had been made to both Labor and the Liberals about their election chances if they go against the demands of ClubsNSW and throw their support behind a cashless gambling card.
“The Labor party is also conflicted on the issue of poker machines, with the Randwick Labor Club* established to give financial aid to the ALP and taking $3.1 million from poker machine revenue in 2020 alone. I call on the ALP to divest themselves of all poker machines and support a ban on donations from gambling interests in the next term of parliament.
“It’s time for the Labor party to divest its interests in poker machines and stop taking donations from the gambling industry which is destroying the lives of Australians every day,” said Cate Faehrmann.
*Between January 2011 and June 2021 clubs across NSW donated $418,520 to NSW Labor. The Randwick Labor Club took $3.1 million in revenue from poker machines in 2020 and $4.17M in 2019. The club’s constitution states that one of the objects for which the club is established is to ‘render financial aid either by gifts or loans to the Australian Labor Party and/or branches or other groups affiliated to, associated with or recognised by the Australian Labor Party.’ A requirement of membership of the club is that a person is a member of the Australian Labor Party.