By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CASEY council has snubbed a multi-council Enough Pokies campaign ahead of the state election, instead opting to advocate on its own.
Its councillors, in a closed meeting on 7 October, voted not to support the campaign for $1 bet limits, a “common sense” definition of the “no net detriment” test for gaming machine applications, and against the targeted placement of pokies in disadvantaged communities.
The council, which has lobbied the State Government for a Casey-wide cap on gaming machine numbers, stated it couldn’t support all aspects of the Enough Pokies campaign last month.
Councillor Gary Rowe, who stressed he was speaking personally and not for the council, said campaign proponent Monash Mayor Geoff Lake didn’t give Casey enough notice to consider its support.
“In my eyes, we weren’t given sufficient opportunity to consider it… just 48 hours to respond.
“You don’t run an all-of-Melbourne campaign without giving councils enough respect to give them time to consider it.
“This is just the arrogance of Lake.”
He said pokies should not be targeted while the spread of online gaming was ignored.
“If gaming machines are not there, (problem gamblers) will just find something else.
“Gaming machines are like cigarettes – they are there, they are legal, the State Government taxes it and they contribute to a community benefit fund.
“What are you going to do about it?”
Casey’s planning acting manager Nick Moore said the council recognised the “economic and recreational functions of all forms of gambling” but also a “comparatively small but significant number of people gamble excessively and, as a result, experience personal, family and financial problems”.
As well as pushing for a Casey-wide cap on pokies, the council has advocated for support for services such as Gamblers Help Southern.
Cr Lake said he was not concerned by Casey’s stance, citing 35 Victorian councils in support.
“My understanding is that Casey supports the same objectives.
“They’re not unlike a number of other councils, they want to go about advocacy in a different way.”
He said he was confident that either a Labor or Coalition government would be “quite open” to discussing the proposed changes.
“We think the ask is not unreasonable.
“This is something the next government can do, which won’t be hard to deliver and the community will benefit.”
Pokies spending in Casey LGA
$113.2 million in 2013-14 financial year
$30.8 million lost in July-September 2014 (up from $29.6 million in the same period last year)
12 venues, including 9 in lower socio-economic areas such as Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Doveton, Hallam and Lynbrook
Highest-yielding venues
Source: Data compiled from Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation website
