The Panania Diggers CEO said the proposal has left local clubs with no option but to mount a political campaign leading into the State election in March and is encouraging the community to write to their State MPs about their concerns.
He said the Government’s proposal has set alarm bells ringing for clubs, with millions of dollars of community support on the line and potential job losses in the thousands.
“Clubs are the fabric of communities across this State, providing vital support to families in need and frontline services like the SES during times of extreme weather events, like we’ve witnessed across NSW recently,” Mr Lowndes said.
“At Panania Diggers, we give thousands of dollars in support each year to our local aged care facility, grassroots organisations, kids’ sport and local schools.
“There’s a right way and a wrong way to implement gaming reform. We need to know what works and what doesn’t, before making any changes that will significantly impact the way clubs operate.”
To date, the NSW Government has not committed to a position on gaming reform outside of a push to adopt a mandatory cashless card to curb problem gambling and crime.
Labor Leader Chris Minns has said he would like to see an expansion of cashless card trials to better understand the potential impact on industry before committing to any major changes.
Mr Lowndes said close to 9,000 jobs and $395 million in taxes could be lost in if a government-issued mandatory cashless card was adopted as the only option to combat problem gambling and crime.
To comment, visit reformtherightway.com.au
