The largest poker machine venue operator in Australia – the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH Group) – which majority stakeholder is the supermarket and grocery store chain Woolworths is still being part of a local government offensive which is focused on opposing the anti-pokies campaign of Tim Costello’s Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR).
The supermarket giant’s pubs and pokies division is now embarking on what could be described as an unprecedented push to get the approval of councils in the state of Victoria at a time when the region is preparing for the council elections in 2020.
Lately, some large poker machine lobby groups, such as the Community Clubs Victoria (CCV) and the Australian Hotels Association (AHA), have been worried that the anti-gambling policies of the local councils are getting stricter by the hour, seeking to drain as much revenue as possible from poker machines pubs and clubs, especially in the area of suburban Melbourne.
Plans to lobby local councils have been confirmed by senior executives in the AHA. The Chief Executive Officer of the ALH Group Bruce Mathieson Jr has had meetings with individual mayors in order to popularise the idea that gambling venues were actually beneficial for communities, as they create jobs, bring new investment contributions and expand the existing entertainment options for local residents.
Several Organisations Oppose Alliance for Gambling Reform Campaigns
The claims of Mr Mathieson have been backed with some details from a February letter to a council, which was initially published by The Age. In the letter, Mr Mathieson provides more information about the economic and social contribution made by the ALH Group in the municipality, as well as on a national level, considering the large number of licensed premises and employees of the giant.
In addition, the letter provided more information about the number of jobs generated by the company’s pubs and the support provided to various community groups, charity organisations, schools, etc. by the hotel chain.
As mentioned above, Community Clubs Victoria (CCV) is the other major campaigner set to lobby in favour of the poker machine pubs and clubs in the region. Ahead of 2018 state election, CCV urged the 600,000 gaming club members to back the major parties in the election rather than the Australian Greens who are fierce anti-pokie campaigners.
Now, the president of CCV, Leon Wiegard, has revealed that the state election was nothing compared to the local government elections in 2020. As he shared with a local media, there is too much misinformation regarding poker machine clubs and pubs and pokie operators’ policies. According to Mr Wiegard, the Alliance for Gambling Reform had made sure that its anti-gambling spirits are adopted by local councils, too.
Tim Costello’s Alliance for Gambling Reform was established in 2015 as a national lobby group based in Melbourne. The group is focused primarily on lobbying in local councils which are by rule closest to the impact problem gambling has on individuals and communities.
- Author
Olivia Cole
