Concerns Raised About Imminent RGF Branch Restructure

It has recently been brought to our attention that the Responsible Gambling Fund branch is to be restructured and absorbed into the policy branch of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. We have written to Minister McBride with our concerns regarding this and below is a summary of these concerns which we are now raising with the NSW Premier. We encourage others to review these changes and make their own representation to both the Minister and Premier.

We have grave concerns about the conflict of interest between the OLGR’s regulatory responsibilities and the inherent working relationship between the department and gambling industry whilst at the same time serving the needs of those negatively affected gambling. We believe the further integration of RGF current responsibilities into the policy department of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing will only exacerbate this situation.

We do not believe the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing to be the appropriate department for the development and overseeing the delivery of human services/treatment programs for those affected by problem gambling. We strongly believe that the IPART recommendation to designate these responsibilities to the NSW Department of Health to be the most appropriate action.

We believe gambling and its related issues of low–high risk behaviour including problem gambling should be considered a significant public health issue and as such requires public health approaches to harm minimisation at all levels of involvement. We believe the NSW Department Health to be in the best position through experience, infrastructure and professional skills to develop and implement such initiatives. We believe this should be suitably resourced thought RGF funds and other State revenue already raised through gambling taxation.

The current restructure will potentially reduce the amount of RGF funds available to treatment services, community education and early intervention/health promotion initiatives. It is suggested that this reduction may be in the order of some 50%. This is untenable given the fact that NSW receives only $12 million each year from the RGF fund compared to what we believe the State of Victoria receives ($24 million) as designated funds for gambling research and treatment for those affected. We strongly urge a review of the funding available to gambling treatment, community education and health promotion. We are aware that the increased NSW poker machine taxes are to be dedicated to public health services, gambling is a public health issue and requires suitable funds to reduce harm and treat those affected by problem gambling including the health impacts on family members.

The restructure of the RGF branch and the absorption of its responsibilities into the OLGR have major ramifications for both problem gambling treatment services and consumers (those affected by problem gambling) but this is to take place without public consultation. It is under the guise of implementing the IPART recommendations and yet there are other recommendations such as the transferring of treatment services to NSW Health which have not been addressed.

We are concerned that these changes are to be effected prior to the March election and yet have required no consultation with consumers, gambling practitioners or the public at large.

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