Newcastle's Pokies Problem

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Figures released by the state government and Fairfax show Novocastrians have put $4.4 billion through poker machines in the last year alone.

The rest of the state doesn't fare much better, with $80.33 billion being put through the slots in 2017, which is an $11 billion increase from 2013-14.

 NSW Greens MP and Gambling Harm spokesperson Justin Field says it's simple- "Newcastle and the Hunter have a pokie machine problem."

Over $400 million is lost from the local economy according to the Greens, who say the cost to individuals and families is more than just monetary.

"In terms of relationship breakdowns, domestic violence and even suicide [poker machines] are having tremendous levels of harm on the Newcastle and Hunter community," said Field.

"What we've seen is that the vested interests within the gambling industry have a really tight rein on government. In fact, the coalition government has a signed memorandum of understanding with Clubs NSW to not hurt the pokies' profits of the big clubs."

Mr Field said political donations from pubs and clubs are having a "big impact" when it comes to trying to change gambling culture in New South Wales. He's advocating a cap on machine numbers and limiting maximum bets to $1.

"If we did that, that would go a long way to reducing the impact [of poker machines], particularly for those people who suffer from gambling addiction."

People concerned with their own gambling behaviour, or that of friends and family should contact the Gambling Impact Society NSW or Gamblers Anonymous Australia for help.

NSW Greens Disapprove of Seismic Testing Approval.

BY DANIELLE RIES

Seismic testing off the coast of Newcastle has recently been approved, but not everyone is happy about the decision, as the NSW Greens have condemned the approval.

The testing will be conducted to see if gas or oil is within the vicinity 30 kilometres off the shores of Newcastle.

The idea to shoot pulses into the ocean has been criticised by the Greens as it could have huge impacts on the wildlife in the area as well as the environment surrounding it.

The environmental effects of this testing could be negative for ocean habitat including the migrating whales and local fisheries.

The company set to conduct these tests, Asset Energy, have assured the practices are safe.

NSW Greens marine and fisheries spokesperson Justin Field says the Greens are doing all they can to reverse this decision.

"We've been calling on the NSW Government to put an end to this nonsense. They've cancelled oil and gas licenses onshore in the northern rivers and other parts of the state.

"There's no reason they couldn't cancel this license, give the community some certainty, put this project to rest and give the community the confidence that their marine life and their local economy will be supported into the future".

He also goes on to say the idea of allowing this to go ahead is ridiculous.

"Previous seismic testing has had a significant impact on local fisheries, and there's new research that shows that seismic testing can impact on the direction and communication capacities of whales.

"This has huge environmental consequences, but more than that, the Newcastle community is never going to accept an oil or gas field off the coast of their beautiful city". 

Seismic Testing Map.
Credit- Newcastle Herald.

Department of Planning: Gloucester not a suitable site for Rocky Hill mine

BY JARROD MELMETH

Lock the Gate Alliance have welcomed a recommendation by the Department of Planning rejecting the development application for the Rocky Hill coal mine at Gloucester.

In an Environmental Impact Assessment to the Planning Assessment Commission, the Department has listed, the site not being suitable for the project; the impacts to residents due to the proximity to the town of Gloucester; visual and social impacts as well as the project not being in the public interest as reasons why the development application should be refused.

The report concludes that "the Department acknowledges that the amended project would deliver economic and employment benefits to the Gloucester region and State economies for the period that the mine would be operational.

"However, in the Department's view, the amended project is incompatibly located with respect to the southern fringes of the nearby urban area of Gloucester," the Environmental Impact Assessment said.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Georgina Woods says this is a common sense decision.

"It was never a good idea to dig an open cut coal mine right on Gloucester's doorstep and to subject the people there to air and noise pollution. We welcome it and congratulate the people of Gloucester who have rallied together to protect the quality of life and environment of their community," Ms Woods said.

Although the proposal for the mine has been amended by reducing operating hours as well as a range of other measures, the Department did not provide any recommended conditions of consent.

NSW Greens resources spokesman Jeremy Buckingham said it was time for the Planning Assessment Commission to now reject the mine and the government should cancel the exploration license for the area to give the residents of Gloucester some certainty for the future.

The Planning Assessment Commission has convened and elected a chair to rule on the matter although no deadline for a decision has yet been set.

Protesters against Rocky Hill coal mine. Image: Groundswell
Gloucester.

Pokies pulling in the big bucks in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The NSW Greens have unveiled just how much communities in the Hunter are being ripped off when it comes to the money being made from poker machines by hotels and clubs.

It's been revealed a staggering $1.1 billion has been put through poker machines at Hunter pubs and clubs during the last three months of last year and only small portion of the gambling income goes back to the community.

They've purchased the data, which wasn't publicly available, and revealed throughout the state in the last quarter of last year the data also found:
- poker machines took nearly $2 billion from the NSW community
- each club-based poker machine removed an average $19,638fromthe community, each hotel-based poker machine removed $28,358
- the average turnover from machines in hotels and clubs is $217,936
-there are an average of 62 poker machines per club in NSW and average 15 machines per hotel.

NSW Greens MP Justin Field says buying the data has brought to light a serious problem in the Hunter.

"And what was seen in Newcastle just in the last three months of last year, $438 million went through poker machines in the Newcastle local government area. That's a loss to the community of $43 million. They're huge figures - we've got a pokies problem in NSW and in the Hunter."

The Greens say the problems with how the industry operates, its transparency and how the money is taxed, needs to be fixed in order to put an end to the societal breakdowns and the huge impact on Hunter families.

"It would be appropriate for more tax to be paid so that tax can be put into services to support those people suffering addiction. At the moment the grants that are provided by some of the pubs and clubs for community projects actually offset their tax liabilities as well so there is a range of problems," said Justin Field.

He also said with such huge figures only a fraction of a per cent of the profits go back into the community through grants "and you can think about how many additional school teachers and  nurses and new infrastructure could be built with that level of money."