Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.
Wesley Mission described it as further evidence that momentum for poker machine reform is building across NSW.
Tweed Shire Council resolved on Thursday June 18 to acknowledge the impact of gambling harm in the community, support evidence-based harm-minimisation measures, advocate for improved gambling data transparency, encourage funding for gambling harm prevention and support services. They will also write to the NSW Premier and Minister for Gaming and Racing outlining the impacts of gambling harm in the Tweed and the need for balanced, evidence-based reform. The Notice of Motion was brought to council by Councillor Nola Firth, moved by Councillor Kimberly Hone and seconded by Councillor Rhiannon Brinsmead.
Wesley Mission say the decision comes as more than $30 million was lost on poker machines in the Tweed Shire during the first quarter of 2026 alone, highlighting the scale of gambling harm affecting local communities.
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, says Tweed Shire councillors have shown important leadership by ensuring Tweed’s voice is heard in the growing statewide conversation about gambling harm and poker machine reform.
“Today’s decision sends a clear message that communities are no longer prepared to accept gambling harm as simply the price of doing business. Local councils see the impact of gambling harm every day. They see the financial stress, housing insecurity, pressure on families and growing demand on community services.
“By recognising the scale of gambling harm locally and advocating for practical, evidence-based measures to reduce that harm, Tweed Shire Council has demonstrated leadership and joined a growing movement of communities calling for change.”
Rev Cameron says the vote reflects growing public support for practical, evidence-based reforms.
“This is not about being anti-pokies; it is about being pro-community and reducing preventable harm. We welcome Tweed Shire Council’s willingness to acknowledge the impact gambling harm is having on local families and to advocate for practical measures that can make a difference.
“Communities increasingly understand that there are reforms that can reduce gambling harm. The question many people are asking is: if we know what works, why are we still waiting?”
“Wesley Mission’s Put Pokies in Their Place campaign is supported by a broad coalition of more than 60 organisations and over 6,000 individuals advocating for practical reforms to reduce gambling harm. The campaign is calling for measures including mandatory account-based gaming with strong harm-prevention safeguards, a statewide self-exclusion register, greater community input into poker machine density decisions and powering down poker machines during high-risk overnight hours”.
Rev Cameron says Tweed Shire Council’s leadership should encourage other councils to publicly acknowledge the impact of gambling harm in their communities and advocate for evidence-based reforms.
“The voice of Tweed matters because it reflects what communities across New South Wales are already saying. Council by council, community by community, support for practical gambling harm reduction is growing”.
“We commend Tweed Shire Council for taking a constructive leadership role. The NSW Government should take notice. When local communities, councils, charities, multicultural groups and service providers are all calling for action, it is clear the appetite for reform is only getting stronger.”
Cr Nola Firth told The Echo, “I put forward a stronger motion but staff suggested a milder one as the clubs give money to the community. The staff suggestion was moved by Kimberly as an amendment to my motion. Unlike the motion that passed, my original motion included Council support for the Wesley ‘Put Pokies in their Place’ campaign and referred to their calls for research-based, specific interventions including that pokie machines be shut between midnight and 10am and for Councils to have a say over how many and where the pokies should be. At the meeting, I spoke about the need to work in partnership with the clubs to reduce harm and not being deterred from speaking strongly and specifically by the conflict of receiving money from them. The losses our local community is experiencing are absolutely huge.”
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