Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 2 September 2009

Pokie Machines Coming to a Suburb Near You?

At today’s Community Services Committee, Auckland City Councillors voted on the draft gambling venue policy which is to go out for public consultation once the full Council approves it on Thursday 24 September.  The existing ‘sinking lid’ policy is proposed to be replaced by a ‘sinking lid with relocation’ policy which means existing gambling machines and venues can be relocated by the licensee to a new suburb in Auckland which may not have any machines currently.  This is an untested new approach which could be an unfortunate experiment.

Councillor Cathy Casey said, “I am disappointed because this draft policy is a retreat from the previous across council agreement to have a sinking lid policy to try to reduce gambling related harm as much was within Council’s power to do.  This Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) led council and the Government are both currently slashing grants for community groups and community based activities and projects.  These community based programmes provide alternatives to drinking and gambling.”

Councillor Glenda Fryer said, “C&R Councillors promoted their intent to lift the sinking lid as a matter of the promotion of personal choice.  Gambling is an addition just as ‘P’ use is an addition and we all agree that both of these addictions harm individuals, families and communities.  Just as Prime Minister Key is about to ban pseudoephdrine from cough medicine, this C&R Council is promoting the ability to relocate gambling machines within Auckland which seems to be inconsistent thinking from right wing politicians.”

Councillor Graeme Easte said, “I moved to retain the sinking lid policy because this relocation policy has the potential to increase public access to gambling machines which would probably increase gambling related harm as gambling machines are brought into middle- to upper class areas where no gambling machines currently exist.”

Councillor Cathy Casey concluded, “One win for City Vision-Labour Councillors from the debate today, was that the consultation will include specific consideration of phasing out of gambling machines from buildings leased by community groups on Auckland City Council land.”

ENDS

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