By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
COUNCILS need a “level playing field” to protect disadvantaged communities from pokies, an Enough Pokies forum was told in Dandenong last Wednesday.
The forum, which invited political candidates, was staged at Greater Dandenong Council – the most disadvantaged Melbourne metro area but home to more than 970 poker machines.
The machines raked in more than $110 million in the past financial year, equivalent to $984 for every Greater Dandenong adult.
To illustrate the targeting of poorer communities, it was stated that less than $150 per adult was spent in Boorondara, one of Melbourne’s most affluent council areas.
Monash University researcher Charles Livingstone told the forum that councils rarely won if they spent $100,000 formally objecting to an application by a venue for more pokies.
Since 2008, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation granted 140 of 154 applications in full.
He said an incoming State Government should toughen the ‘no net detriment test’ – which was “so high you could drive several trucks underneath it”.
“The applicant (should) have to prove that there’s a net benefit not just a status quo level.”
The Journal this year reported on the VCGLR giving the go-ahead to Noble Park RSL’s application for five extra poker machines.
The commission deemed the estimated extra $450,000 expenditure would have a positive “likely social impact”.
The Salvation Army’s Major Brad Halse said his counsellors heard many hapless tales of “out-of-control” gambling addicts who lose their life savings and mortgages down poker machine slots.
They are also known to steal from employers to fund their addiction.
He said it is estimated that only one in 10 problem gamblers seek help.
He said in one case a gambler borrowed $10,000 from his and his fiancee’s mortgage.
“He hasn’t told his fiance about the losses,” Major Halse said.
“The extreme worry is affecting his health.
“It can be a person just living on a pension who’s lonely or a senior executive who slips down to the club or pub at lunchtime.
“We see these people come in at the point when it’s almost too late. The only time they stop is when they run out of money.”
Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan said the “critical issue” was what drove him “over the edge” into politics.
He said efforts to tackle family violence were hampered by the problem gambling issue.
He said research found half of problem gamblers commit domestic violence.
Cr Kirwan said reducing pokie numbers in Greater Dandenong would free up money to be spent in “more productive activities”.
Conspicuously, the ALP and Liberal parties did not send representatives to the forum.
Neither party has made any state election promises to tackle problem gambling.
