Media Release

Tuesday, 3 June 2003

$251M LOST ON POKIES IN ONE COUNCIL AREA NSW GOV ACCUSED OF CREATING “VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY”

A councillor from Sydney’s most socially disadvantaged council has accused the state government of creating vicious cycle of poverty for his constituents by allowing the phenomenal growth of gaming machines in the local area.

Over A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS is lost at each year to pokies at one of the 41 hotels and clubs in the Fairfield local government area, according to statistics from the NSW Department of Gaming and Racing.

“This equates to $1,915 for every adult resident in the Fairfield council area and is double the state average of $906” said Fairfield Councillor Thang Ngo.

While Fairfield locals are losing money to pokies at double the state average, they can least afford to gamble said Cr Ngo.

Fairfield scored the lowest of all Sydney metropolitan councils in the 1996 Socio-Economic index of Disadvantage, which took into account income, educational attainment and unemployment.

Residents spend 6.37% of gross average income on pokies compared to the NSW average of 2.64%.

With 3,898 pokies, Fairfield has over 7% of Sydney’s pokies, but is home to just 4.4% of Sydney’s adult population.

“Local residents are losing over $251m each year, compared to Council’s annual operating budget of $99m and annual rates revenue of $55.9m” said Cr Ngo.

Cr Ngo called on the State government to legislate to reduce the number of pokies in Fairfield and other socially disadvantaged council areas. “The government should consider ‘regional caps’ to stop the disproportionate concentration of pokies” he said.

He also called on the Liquor Administration Board to refuse all applications from Fairfield clubs and hotels for exemption to the compulsory 6-hour pokies shutdown.

More at www.thangngo.com