Clubs won’t be able to install poker gaming machines in the Molonglo Valley or future suburbs in Canberra under the law change. Photo: Duallogic.
Poker machines can never be installed in the Molonglo Valley or future suburbs of Canberra under new laws passed in the Legislative Assembly.
The Gaming Machine Amendment Bill 2023 was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly in August last year following Labor backbencher Dr Marisa Paterson’s campaign to keep the Molonglo pokie-free.
“New suburbs and districts of the ACT will never see poker machines,” Dr Paterson said.
“This is a significant step to reducing gambling harm, but also firmly establishes the discussion and thinking about what a club looks like without poker machines.”
An inquiry into the law change had just one recommendation – that it be passed – but also included a dissenting report from Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain, who argued gamblers wouldn’t be deterred by the ban and would just travel elsewhere to use gaming machines.
He also raised concerns about the ability of community clubs to set up in new suburbs and the Molonglo Valley.
Dr Paterson presented 2020 research which showed those who lived within 250 metres of a gambling venue were six per cent more likely to gamble than those living more than 2 km away.
“The less access you have to poker machines or gambling, the less likely you are to participate in the first place and, ultimately, to experience harm,” she said.
Clubs can still set up in the Molonglo Valley and future suburbs, but they can’t have poker machines.
Dr Paterson hoped the Molonglo could act as a catalyst to demonstrate clubs of the future.
“I think this is a very powerful step in the shaping of Molonglo Valley, a real statement in terms of residents wanting to challenge the status quo and put the health of their community first,” she said.
“Key to that is the creation of a vibrant social community, and clubs most definitely have a place – just without poker machines.”
The move has received support from harm reduction advocates, such as the Alliance for Gambling Reform.
CEO Carol Bennett said the law change was a “valid solution” to what she called a “growing problem” that is causing harm to the Canberra community.
“[This] is a proposal that the Alliance strongly believes would be welcomed and should be implemented in emerging communities in other states and territories across the country,” she said.
Losses from gambling in the ACT amounted to $185.8 million in 2022, a 9.4 per cent increase on pre-pandemic figures.
The ACT Council of Social Service has also labelled the law change a “crucial step” towards creating safer and healthier communities in the future.
“By preventing the proliferation of gambling venues in these areas, the government can prevent vulnerable individuals and families from experiencing gambling harm while promoting community cohesion and ensuring that the harms caused by electronic gaming machines are not further reproduced in new Canberra communities,” CEO Dr Devin Bowles said.
“This may also assist in reducing the burden of addressing gambling harms on mental health and other community services.”
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