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Birthday babes THE Frankston office of The Babes Project last week celebrated its first birthday helping new and expecting mothers deal with the challenges amid the joys of newborns. See story Page 7. Picture: Yanni
Anti-pokies push gathers pace Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A CALL for councils to financially back a campaign against problem gambling has been knocked back by Frankston Council as other south-east councils join the fight against pokies draining money from communities. Kingston councillors last month decided to pay $25,000 to become a
from
“tier one” Alliance for Gambling Reform partner while Frankston Council remains “a supporter” without contributing ratepayers’ money to the cause. The alliance is lobbying both sides of politics in the lead-up to next year’s state election to act on pokies reform to stem rising losses on the gaming machines. Alliance spokesman Stephen Mayne said he understood Frankston Council
officers had discussed the request to be an alliance partner with councillors but this had been “declined”. He said the group is grateful for any support in its “The Pokies Play You” campaign. “We’ve only got ten councils who’ve paid the full $25,000 - it’s a fair whack. Anyone who joins is a bonus.” Frankston Council is listed on the group’s website as an alliance “sup-
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porter” meaning council supports the alliance’s cause in principle. Discussions are ongoing with Mornington Peninsula Shire. “Fingers crossed they will step up and join the campaign,” Mr Mayne said. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) figures show $62.9 million was lost by Frankston punters on pokies in the 2015-16 financial year and $57.4 mil-
lion in 2016-17 with June’s losses still to be collated by the gaming authority. Mornington Peninsula Shire losses totalled just under $82.4 million in 2015-16 and about $76.1 million in 2016-17 with June’s losses to be added to the total. Kingston municipality pokies losses totalled about $83.5 million in 201516 and $76.1 million in 2016-17 excluding June losses. Continued Page 9
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