Non-gamblers win - Letter to the Editor (Fairfield Champion, 3 Oct 2002)

THE sustained community protest against Casino Canberra's weekend shuttle service to Cabramatta resulted in a small but significant victory.

As reported in last week's Champion, the casino will no longer promote this service to the local Vietnamese community. However, I understand they will not be cancelling the shuttle service, at this stage.

I write to thank the Champion for being the first to report this story some five weeks ago. Your initial front page story not only brought Fairfield's attention to an unethical marketing campaign but also elevated this issue to the national media arena.

It was exactly this national exposure which forced Casino Canberra to back down.

I also acknowledge the assistance of Dr Tien Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese Community in Australia (NSW), who also agreed to run hard on the issue.

I feel I need to place these acknowledgements on record, because now that we have won, I'm sure the politicians and other hangers-on will come out of the woodwork to claim credit.

CR THANG NGO
Fairfield Council