Unions NSW welcomes the Auditor General's report but the Government's response shows a fundamental lack of ambition in addressing NSW's status as the "gambling capital of Australia."
While Minister Harris lists administrative measures, the harsh reality is the Government is doing next to nothing on the core issue: NSW still has 87,298 poker machines - 15 per cent more than Queensland and Victoria combined.
The Government's reforms amount to tinkering around the edges of a system that extracts $8.6 billion annually from NSW communities. Reducing cash limits and introducing responsible gambling officers, while welcome, fail to address the fundamental problem: there are simply too many poker machines.
"Supply creates demand, and in turn, misery," said Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey. "While the Government congratulates itself on administrative changes, families in Fairfield are losing $3,225 per adult annually to poker machines."
The Government claims to be reducing machine numbers through "forfeiture rates," but this passive approach is woefully inadequate. If NSW simply matched Queensland's ratio, we would remove over 25,000 machines.
Unions NSW's solution is clear: a moratorium on new licences, cancellation when venues close, and a phased five-year reduction to bring NSW in line with Queensland.
The community is ready for action. The Auditor General, Crime Commission and federal parliament have all pointed to the same conclusion: NSW's poker machine problem requires decisive action, not administrative tweaks.
"Real harm minimisation means fewer machines, not more bureaucracy," Morey said.
Mark Morey 0425 231 812
Nick Lucchinelli 0422 229 032