Kiwi talks help push pokie fight
By Jenna Daroczy
Fairfield Champion, Wed 3 April 2008

FOLLOWING the example of our neighbours across the ditch might be a gamble for some but it's one a Fairfield councillor was willing to take to tackle Fairfield's gambling problems.

Cr Thang Ngo and seven other council delegates have returned from the 2008 International Gambling Conference in Auckland, NZ, armed with suggestions for tackling the problem.

Cr Ngo said one item at the conference covered how some Melbourne councils use economic modelling to reject applications for more poker machines in areas vulnerable to gambling.

"At present, Fairfield Council has only one standard letter it uses when refusing applications for poker machines.

"If Fairfield commissioned the same sort of modelling we could use this as supporting material for decisions. This is particularly important for applicants with a lot of money who take the decision to court.

"This kind of evidence stands up better than a single letter."

Cr Ngo has proposed 11 recommendations for the council to implement.

He would also like to see Fairfield Council develop culturally appropriate anti-gambling resources, lobby clubs to support smart-card technology which identifies problem-gamblers, and support mergers between pokie venues to consolidate locations of poker machines.

Cr Ngo and Bill Cashman, The Greens candidate for the September council elections, will hold an anti-gambling summit in Green Valley on Friday, May 16. Further information: www.thangngo.com