Wesley Mission’s Superintendent adds his voice to calls for sustainable poker machine reform
30 January 2012
Wesley Mission today encouraged concerned Australians to maintain the momentum of poker machine reform for the thousands of people with a gambling addiction, and their families, across the country.
The call followed the announcement last weekend of the Gillard Government’s changes to its earlier approach to the issue.
Rev Dr Keith Garner, the CEO of Wesley Mission, also suggested that those involved in the reform process could benefit from attending one of its gambling counselling services to experience the devastating impact of gambling not only on those with an addiction, but on their families, friends and those community services required to support them.
“They could gain a deeper appreciation of the issue and learn first-hand from the clients and counsellors about the most effective ways to reverse the downward spiral of gambling addiction,” Dr Garner said. “Sadly, poker machine addiction is too often a damaging factor in these people’s lives. They can’t control the impulse to gamble even when they know it is hurting them and their loved ones”.
Wesley Mission helps thousands of people each year who are vulnerable, lonely and often spiritually lost. Our gambling counselling service includes emotional, financial and legal support to address the many issues that both cause, and flow from, a gambling addiction. Wesley Mission also provides suicide prevention services, financial literacy training and crisis counselling for those in desperate need.
“It is critical to this work, and the welfare of thousands of families across the country, that our decision-makers demonstrate informed leadership and support effective, sustainable reform on this issue”.
“I also encourage everyone in our community to understand the complex issues in this debate so they can contribute in a meaningful way to the reform process,” Dr Garner said.
In releasing its Gambling inquiry report in June 2010, The Productivity Commission stated “there are strong grounds to lower the bet limit to around $1 per ‘button push’ instead of the current $5-$10. Accounting for adjustment costs and technology, this can be fully implemented within 6 years.”
Wesley Mission agrees with this recommendation if coupled with other comprehensive measures such as gambling counselling and education to address all aspects of this issue, particularly when one considers its significant impact in our community.
The call followed the announcement last weekend of the Gillard Government’s changes to its earlier approach to the issue.
Rev Dr Keith Garner, the CEO of Wesley Mission, also suggested that those involved in the reform process could benefit from attending one of its gambling counselling services to experience the devastating impact of gambling not only on those with an addiction, but on their families, friends and those community services required to support them.
“They could gain a deeper appreciation of the issue and learn first-hand from the clients and counsellors about the most effective ways to reverse the downward spiral of gambling addiction,” Dr Garner said. “Sadly, poker machine addiction is too often a damaging factor in these people’s lives. They can’t control the impulse to gamble even when they know it is hurting them and their loved ones”.
Wesley Mission helps thousands of people each year who are vulnerable, lonely and often spiritually lost. Our gambling counselling service includes emotional, financial and legal support to address the many issues that both cause, and flow from, a gambling addiction. Wesley Mission also provides suicide prevention services, financial literacy training and crisis counselling for those in desperate need.
“It is critical to this work, and the welfare of thousands of families across the country, that our decision-makers demonstrate informed leadership and support effective, sustainable reform on this issue”.
“I also encourage everyone in our community to understand the complex issues in this debate so they can contribute in a meaningful way to the reform process,” Dr Garner said.
In releasing its Gambling inquiry report in June 2010, The Productivity Commission stated “there are strong grounds to lower the bet limit to around $1 per ‘button push’ instead of the current $5-$10. Accounting for adjustment costs and technology, this can be fully implemented within 6 years.”
Wesley Mission agrees with this recommendation if coupled with other comprehensive measures such as gambling counselling and education to address all aspects of this issue, particularly when one considers its significant impact in our community.
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