Gerald Lynch
With the dismantling of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF), the state government is starting a new model to deal with gambling harm.
Brimbank has the highest losses to electronic gaming machines of any Victorian local government area, totalling $172.8 million in 2022-23.
VRGF acting chief executive Craig Swift said the 12 years the foundation has run has provided them with a strong body of knowledge about gambling harm, and that it has served its purpose as a public health approach.
“The foundation’s functions and related activities will be delivered under a new operational model as of July 1,” he said.
“That work will continue to build the gambling harm knowledge base, and contribute to strategies that minimise gambling-related harm at an individual, community and population level.”
Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, who sits on the board of the VRGF, threw her support behind the decision to close it.
“I have seen the good work that has happened at the VRGF, and I have proudly sat in the board meetings and listened to everyone’s thoughts and the varied debates that have occurred during that time,” she said.
“As I have said before in this place, I absolutely loathe pokie machines and organised gambling because I have seen first-hand the destruction that they cause.
“The government’s new model of prevention and response will mean that gambling harm reduction, prevention and therapeutic services will sit together in health to support a broad public health approach. It would also mean that publicly funded research is connected to and informs improvements to these vital health services.”
Laverton MP Sarah Connolly backed the decision to move onto a new model.
“It is about taking the foundation, which I believe was set up 12 years ago, having a look at it and thinking about: does it reflect what we need today? The answer to that was ‘maybe not’,” she said.
“We need to do something else, and that is what this bill is going to. It is going to transfer those roles and responsibilities into other areas and other departments, which will be able to take a more hands-on approach and hopefully help improve and offer support to people and also their families that are suffering with gambling harm and having someone in their home that is addicted to gambling.”
Brimbank council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said council encourages all forms of preventative measures.
“Brimbank council continues to be deeply concerned about the disproportionately high losses from EGMs on the Brimbank community. We look forward to working collaboratively with the newly established Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to keep the gambling industry to account and prevent gambling harm,” she said.
