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Monash Fights Matthew Flinders In VCGR Hearing
18 June 2009
Monash Council put up a vigorous fight this week at the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation to oppose an application made by Matthew Flinders Taverner to install Electronic Gaming Machines above what is permitted under the State Government's regional caps limit.
One of the intentions of the Victorian Government regional cap legislation is to protect communities that are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of gambling.
On 24 December 2007, Council received notification that Matthew Flinders Taverner submitted an application to VCGR that called for an increase of 21 EGMs to their venue, a move that would test the new limits set by the State Government.
Mayor, Cr Paul Klisaris said that Monash City Council, who founded the Monash Responsible Gaming Taskforce eight years ago, has a long history of pro-active lobbying on behalf of the community on the issue of problem gambling.
"This VCGR application by Matthew Flinders Taverner laughs in the face of the State Government legislation," said Cr Klisaris, who chairs the Monash Responsible Gaming Taskforce.
"Monash funded a comprehensive Social and Economic Impact Statement from Coomes Consulting for this hearing and engaged a forensic accountant from Ferrier Hodgson to state our case at VCGR. We also called on two community leaders who testified regarding the harmful community consequences of problem gambling."
"Our overall goal and long-term commitment is to minimise and reduce the negative impacts of problem gambling on the Monash community. We strongly opposed the Matthew Flinders Taverner's application and hope that the Commission takes into account the significant concerns of our community."
In the 2007/2008 financial year, gambling expenditure in Monash amounted to $125,714,693, the second highest loss of any municipality in Victoria. This follows eight years of the City of Monash having the highest loss of any municipality in Victoria.
Council officers regularly attend the Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA), Local Government Working Group on Gambling and continue to support the Gamblers Help Eastern program.
Last year, Monash City Council also distributed 70,000 postcards to local residents in an attempt to highlight problem gambling in the community and continues to work toward raising awareness of problem gambling.
The outcome of the VCGR hearing is expected to be announced within the next two months.
Published: 18 June 2009
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