Push to minimize the impacts of problem gambling

Greens Alderman Helen Burnet will raise the issue of the large number of poker machines in the Hobart municipality.

There is evidence to suggest that a high number of poker machines per 1000 peopleis more likely to create harmful impacts. Hobart has a very high number – Hobart’s high number is over 3 times higher than what has been seen to be a benchmark in other states. We as a Council should be aware of this and also that there is putting a motion to full council on Tuesday evening which could see the pokies debate take off at the local government level.

Ald Burnet says that there is evidence of the impacts of large numbers of poker machines per 1000 people

1. The negative impacts of the use of electronic gaming machines (EGM) on the Hobart community including problem gambling and associated risk-taking behavior from pokies losses (crime, addiction, social and family breakdown)
2. What services are provided in this municipality funded by gaming revenue through the Community Service Levy and how effective these services are at reducing the harm associated with problem gambling on the Hobart community
3. Evidence based ways in which the Hobart City Council could effectively reduce harm to members of the community from the impacts of problem gambling, including:
   1. Reducing gambling advertising in Council-owned facilities including sports grounds
   2. Planning considerations such as signage restrictions and reinstating venue licensing of EGM under the Land Use Planning Approval Act
   3. Assessing the literature to answer the question is there a “safe”, or acceptable, level of EGM per 1000 people
   4. Links to existing social support programs
   5. The best way to approach the State government to encourage compliance with the Productivity Commission’s 1999 report findings and introduce $1 bet limits on electronic gaming machines.
   6. Which other Tasmanian Councils Hobart can work with, possibly through the Local Government Association of Tasmania, in order to have a coordinated approach to reducing the negative impacts of problem gambling in Tasmanian communities more broadly.

Rationale

Tasmanian people lose over $18 million each month on EGMs - more than $400 annually per man, woman and child. It is broadly accepted that problem gambling has a significant negative impact on the health and well-being of Tasmanian and Australian communities. In Tasmania the highest number of EGMs is in the Hobart municipality, 18.9 per 1000 people, far in excess to the average level of 5.4 per 1000 people favoured by some Victorian councils such as Monash.

The impacts on local government and on local communities, including crime, lost revenue, and social isolation, are significant but not fully understood.

Gambling legislation rests with the State government. The State’s jurisdiction crosses areas of both control and revenue. There is, therefore, a conflict of interest is inherent in this system.

There is a growing body of evidence which identifies significant social issues associated with the problem gambling. The 2007 Anglicare Report suggests that for every 1 person affected by problem gambling, 10 more in the community are also affected.

Problem gambling is not isolated to Hobart. The report would provide ways of tackling the problem at the local government level.