Problem Gambling Foundation Victim of Political Views?
Family First NZ is expressing concern and disappointment that the Problem Gambling Foundation is losing its government
funding.
“As with the attempt to deregister Family First NZ because if its views on traditional marriage, the defunding of the
Problem Gambling Foundation appears to be a highly politicised decision which is grim evidence that groups that think
differently to the prevailing politically correct view will be targeted in an attempt to shut them up,” says Bob
McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“It is significant that the defunding of this important organisation has taken place following the Foundation’s very
public opposition to the SkyCity pokie deal and the watering down of the Gambling Harm Reduction Bill last year – both
issues that the Foundation was representing a large constituency on and was leading the charge on.”
“It is also a strange decision in light of the Ministry of Health admitting that the Foundation was ‘a valued provider
of quality services’.”
“It is now evident that any charity or organisation that speaks up on issues which are deemed incorrect by the political
elite are in danger of being penalized,” says Mr McCoskrie.
“Organisations that work at the ‘bottom of the cliff’ should also have the freedom to be able to argue for changes that
fence the ‘top of the cliff’,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS