3 February 2014
A Star News Group Publication
Bringing home the bacon
Ranger reaches 300
Property liftout
PAGE 10
SPORT
INSIDE
■ Gambling regulator says extra pokies are good for community...
Jackpot for RSL By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
1102308-DJ48-13
NOBLE PARK RSL is ramping up its poker-machine battery to purportedly boost its veteran welfare services. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation last month deemed the “likely social impact of the proposal will be positive” as it approved the club’s application to increase its electronic gaming machines from 30 to 35. The RSL predicts the extra machines will generate more than $450,000 in expenditure. The commission noted Greater Dandenong was one of the most disadvantaged municipalities in the state and was “well above” the metropolitan average for gaming levels. “Such factors are warning signs and suggestive of a municipality where problem gambling may be prevalent and the impacts of problem gambling greatly felt. “However, having regard to the minimal increase in new gaming expenditure that will be generated, the commission is not satisfied that approval of this application will impact on this situation.” The club’s general man-
ager Mark Wilkinson said the expected windfall would help it buy a property for its pension office and to provide its welfare service. The pension office assists members and families to apply for welfare and pension entitlements, runs hospital and house visits for ill and socially isolated people, short-term emergency accommodation and food vouchers, furniture and utility bill help. “We run our own pensions office with volunteer staff and that needs money from somewhere,” Mr Wilkinson said. “There’s only so much you make with the bar and the bistro. (The pokies money) enables you to do the work you need to do.” In the 2012-13 financial year punters spent $2.7 million on pokies at the RSL club - one of the smallest of the 15 pokies venues in Greater Dandenong. The commission predicted most of the revenue from the club’s extra machines would be transferred from surrounding gaming venues. The machines were expected to generate about $22,000 in new pokies spending in the municipality - a “nominal amount”
given the $109 million lost on pokies in Greater Dandenong in 2012-13. Greater Dandenong Council declined to make a submission on the application. Community services director Mark Doubleday said “Council determined that there was a reduced likelihood of succeeding with an objection at the VCGLR as the club had an existing planning permit for the additional machines and the increase in machine numbers was small”. Monash University public health researcher Charles Livingstone said there was community concern that RSLs had become a “gambling operation” rather than its original purpose as a service for veterans. “In the past they could operate effectively without the poker machine cash,” Mr Livingstone said. “The reality is any additional machine is going to create additional gambling problems. “It’s going to take money out of families’ pockets and divert money from other community activities. The benefit is miniscule compared to the harm being done.” Continued page 2
YOUR HUMBL E ABODE AWA ITS PAGE 2
First day school smiles
SHYLA, Rafay and Ester were among 72 Preps to start their schooling in an innovative new learning space at Athol Road Primary last week. See page 2 for the full story. 113720 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
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