Council Minutes - Section C: Notice of Motion - 25 September 2018
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Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 25 September 2018 which was held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre in City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong.
This motion seeks to enhance the City of Greater Geelong’s ability to minimise the harms from problem gambling in the municipality, in particular those related to Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs, or ‘pokies’). This is in recognition of evidence of growing harm from problem gambling in our community, and community expectations that Council addresses this issue. Examples of community sentiment about problem gambling include the survey responses to recent applications by venues for additional EGMs, as well as recent media coverage of the issue.
Geelong residents lost $118.8 million last financial year to EGMs. Losses are rising at a rate almost double the state average. The productivity commission estimates that on average, 0.5%-1.0% of Australian adults can be considered to have severe problems with gambling; in Geelong this estimated to be more than double this level at 2.44%. Studies show that between 20% and 60% of EGM expenditure comes from those that can be considered problem gamblers. Although EGMs are often justified as a means to fund measures that benefit the community, on average only 1.3% of losses from EGMs in Geelong go back to the community.
While gambling and EGM use is a legal and potentially enjoyable activity for some, for others it has the potential to result in significant harm. The evidence of harm to individuals and the broader community from gambling losses is well established and outlined in the Council’s response to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in the current agenda papers (see item 4). It is a significant public health issue, that spreads well beyond the individual affected – it is estimated that between 7-10 other people experience harm as a result of each person with problem gambling. If we relate these figures to just to those with the most severe problem gambling, this means that at least 17-24% of our community are impacted by the consequences of problem gambling.
Harms include direct financial hardships, such as poverty and housing stress, suicide, depression, crime, family breakdown and family violence. The money lost from gambling is also a loss turn to our local economy, as is the loss of work productivity of those experiencing problem gambling. As noted in the report in agenda item 4, the harms from gambling are not evenly spread through the community. Those who are already experiencing social and financial hardship are more likely to experience problem gambling, as well as the harms arising from gambling. As a municipality with a significant proportion of people who experience high levels of social and financial hardship, we as a Council have a responsibility to prevent anything that exacerbates this.
Measures we as a Council can take to do this include:
Joining the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR). We were formerly a supporter of this group via our membership of the Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA), however since we are no longer part of the VLGA this has ceased. The AGR is a group of organisations who work together to share ideas and resources with the aim of reducing the harm from gambling, in particular from EGMs. The MAV and VLGA along with 18 Victorian councils including the City of Melbourne, Wyndham City Council, and Hobsons Bay City Council are AGR members. By joining, the City of Greater Geelong can collaborate with other Councils to reduce harm in our communities;
Re-establishing the Gambling Advisory Committee. This was previous an advisory committee to council and was dissolved while council was under administration. The roles that a Gambling Advisory Committee could play include: review the Council Electronic Gaming Machine Policy; review Council processes in VCGLR Applications and Planning Applications regarding Electronic Gaming Machines; provide comment to Council on VGLR applications and relevant planning applications; monitor implementation of G21 Problem Gambling Recommendations; and develop recommendations and education programs to Council to enable reduction in gambling harm in Geelong municipality;
Provide Council with the opportunity to review all applications in the municipality for new or additional EGMs, regardless of the recommended response from officers. This will ensure that Councillors are aware of, and can have a say on, all applications for more machines.
Council taking a more active role to minimise the harms from gambling is consistent with our Council Plan 2018-2022 Strategic Priority Area 1 – Improved Health and Safety of Our Community; our municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan (particularly the focus on improving mental health), and the Clever and Creative Future vision priority of being an inclusive, diverse, health and socially connected community.
Councillor Mansfield moved, Councillor Aitken seconded -
That Council:
Confirm their support for the Alliance for Gambling Reform and considers becoming a member during the 2019/2020 budget period;
Provide advice on the resource implications to re-establish the Gambling Advisory Committee and have officers report back to Council no later than 30 November 2018; and
Reaffirms that all responses to the VCGLR regarding applications by venues to obtain additional EGMs are brought to the chamber for a decision by Council.
Carried.
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