The Annual General Meeting of Unions New South Wales has unanimously agreed to advocate for a gradual decrease in the number of poker machines over the next five years, aligning the state more closely with Queensland and Victoria in terms of pokies per capita.
According to a resolution by the Unions NSW, the organization urges the state authorities to reduce the number of poker machines in the state by a minimum of 25,000 within the next five years.
It highlights that NSW currently surpasses Queensland and Victoria combined in poker machine numbers. While Victoria has approximately 227 people per poker machine and Queensland has 109 per poker machine, NSW has only 95 people per poker machine.
Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW, emphasized, “The undeniable truth about poker machines is that their availability leads to increased demand and, consequently, more suffering.”
“NSW has an excessive number of poker machines, plain and simple, and we must initiate the process of reducing them,” said the official.
The resolution proposes a halt on issuing new poker machine licenses in pubs and clubs and the cancellation of licenses when establishments close or seek relocation.
To fund this transition, the AU$1 billion ($660 million) tax subsidy currently granted to registered clubs with poker machines would be redirected to compensate for the removal of licenses.
“We have the political determination and innovative policies to mitigate the social harm caused by poker machines through a gradual reduction,” stated Morey. “Unions are prepared to collaborate with the state government to implement a robust reform process.”
Additionally, the resolution calls on the federal government to ban inducements for online gambling, following recommendations outlined in the report “You Win Some, You Lose More: Online Gambling and Its Impacts on Those Experiencing Gambling Harm.”
It also urges the government to enact a comprehensive ban on all gambling advertising across broadcast and online media, with a three-year phase-in period.
