Cate Faehrmann MLC says the NSW government has knocked any hope of gambling reform on the head in yesterday’s state budget, with tax concessions to clubs with poker machines totalling $1.252 billion, while revenue from taxes on poker machine losses have been revised upward by a whopping $638.2 million over the forward estimates.
Meanwhile tax revenue from gambling is forecast to be $4.087 billion in 2026-27.
‘This budget confirms that the Minns Labor Government has given up any pretense of wanting to reduce gambling harm,’ said Ms Faehrmann, the NSW Greens’ gambling harm reduction spokesperson.
‘The people of NSW are losing almost $10 billion a year to pokies yet the premier and treasurer are doing nothing to stem the losses. In fact, they are rubbing their hands in glee.’
Disgrace
‘It’s a disgrace that the budget forecast has even more money being given back to clubs in the form of ClubGRANTS [$92 million] while the Minns Government has sat on the review into this dodgy scheme for 18 months,’ she said.
‘Premier Chris Minns doesn’t care about the enormous pain caused by pokies addiction to families and communities across this state, In fact all he’s done since being elected is work with his mates in the gambling industry to rig the system and encourage people to gamble even more.
‘Once again the state budget is giving millions in tax handouts to wealthy clubs, including using tax-payer funding for a clubs PR program – all while people are losing homes and families are falling apart as a result of pokies addiction,’ said Cate Faehrmann.
‘This government has given up on pokies reform and has thrown the people of NSW to the gambling industry wolves.’
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