Dean Speaks: “Airbags on Pokies”
CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 23 March 2023
Friends in Christ, I encourge you to join me in this prayer for our State, with the election of a new Parliament this Saturday, 25th March:
Almighty God and Loving Heavenly Father, we humbly ask you to direct the hearts of those who seek election to our state parliament, and of us as we exercise our democratic freedoms. May we vote unselfishly for the common good. Protect politicians from the temptation of self-serving. Enable them to make realistic promises and help them keep their word. Uphold those elected to serve in the new Parliament through all the heavy demands that come upon them, that they may serve with integrity. May the decisions of our parliaments, state and federal, lead to the safety and welfare of this country, so that peace and happiness, truth and justice may be established among us. Amen.
As you know, I have spoken strongly in favour of reforms to prevent and minimise harm from poker machine use, which currently sees people in NSW lose $8 billion a year. That's about $23 million per day! And the worst losses are often in the poorer areas of our city.
I have been calling for reform for almost 15 years, since I first became aware of the dreadul damage done by poker machines on their users and families.
Since then I have had countless pastors share stories of devastation that have come to them for help, as well as many direct conversations with those impacted, and family members, by this deliberately addictive form of gambling.
Here are three reasons that motivate me in this advocacy.
1. Jesus came to bring freedom. Claiming the mantle of the Servant of the Lord, prophesied by Isiaah, Jesus said,
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free" Luke 4:18
Freedom can be lost in all sorts of ways, by all sorts of sins, mistakes, and misfortunes. But those harmed by the addictive poker machines are not free. They need our help to minimise temptation. The Lord Jesus would be glad to see such help given.
2. Jesus wants to lift burdens from the heavy laden.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Of course, I understand that only trusting the truth of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, and rose again, defeating death can bring lasting and ultimate freedom and rest into eternity. But even now in this world, Jesus delights in seeing burdens lifted.
3. Jesus says we should love our neighbours. And this has special appliction to thoe who are poor, marginalised and disadvantaged.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law." Romans 13:8-10
Think especially of the second last sentence: Love does no harm to a neighbour.
How can any Christian citizen in NSW be satisfied with a system that permits the pokies and their operators to cause such harm to vulnerable neighbours?
Experts, including gambling counsellors and researchers, and both the NSW Crime Commissioner and Crown Casino Commissioner, have recommended the adoption of universal cashless card with mandatory limits across all venues in NSW. This move has the support not only of many churches, but also of trade unions, public health professionals, welfare agencies like Anglicare, and our state Police Commissioner.
I have called this putting "airbags on pokies". In the same way that we have harm minimisation measures in our motor vehicles which can do such damage when operated at high (or even low) speeds, so we need harm minimisation measures on poker machines, which can so easily be used in a damaging manner.
This article, "I've lost $50,000 in two days: Inside southwest Sydneys parasitical pokie mecca", focussed on the giant club near where I lived when began my ministry almost 30 years ago, and explains the devastating harm caused.
This article, "The science of pokies and how theyre designed to keep you hooked", explains why you should never, ever begin to play the pokies. They are highly engineered conditioning machines designed to addict you.
This article explains why Labor's planned trial of 500 cashless poker machines would not have any effect on gambling behaviour because patrons would move to venues not included in the trial, according to the independent Palriamentary Budget Office, charged with scrutinising the cost of election promises.
Two weeks ago, I had a young man knock on the Cathedral door, feeling suicidal after losing a large sum of money on a machine in a Pitt Street hotel, not for the first time.
I suggested that even though his parents might be angry at him for blowing all his money, they would be even more upset to lose him altogether. Thankfully after we prayed, he accepted my invitation to walk across to Wesley Mission to see the Lifeline Counsellors who dropped everything to talk to him, and who could also refer him to a specialist gambling counsellors that Wesley also provide. (By the way, this month marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of the LifeLine telephone counselling and suicide prevention service. Let's thank God for the foresight of Rev Alan Walker in setting it up!)
I have received unanimous support for this campaign whenever I have raised it in the Sydney and National Anglican Synods, so I am not acting alone or in an idiosyncratic way. However, our calls have been resolutely ignored by parliamentarians... Until the last year.
The run up to this state election has been the first time in almost 15 years that I have sense any traction in the campaign for reform. That's why I am unashamedly asking you to consider using your voting preferences in the election this weekend to prefer candidates who have committed to put "Airbags on Pokies".
I am not telling you whom to vote for, since you can find parties towards the right and on the left of politics, who have all committed to the mandatory cashless gaming card, along with many independent candidates who may be left, right, in between or defying usual categorisation!
But I am telling you it's a vote changer for me.
And if you feel gambling is causing you problems, you can call the Gambling Help Line on 1800 858 858 or visit gambleaware.nsw.gov.au. Lifeline are on 13 11 14.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney
P.S. This electoral commentary is authorised by A.R. (Sandy) Grant, of St Andrew's Cathedral, corner George and Bathurst Streets, Sydney.
(PO Box Q190, QVB Post Office, NSW 1230)