The Tasmania state government has recently been accused to pulling funding for problem gambling campaigns. The Opposition cited data from Right to Information documents, but state politicians deny that they have taken money away from programs supporting gambling addiction help. The case was initially brought up by Rebecca White, a human resources spokesperson for The Opposition.
Using documents retrieved using Right to Information, the group found that the state government pulled funding from two problem gambling campaigns after deeming them ‘non’-essential. The documents showed proof from the Department of Health and Human Services which confirmed that the state doubted that responsible gambling campaigns were essential.
The Know Your Odds program and an advertorial for Responsible Gambling Awareness Week were both pulled by Treasurer Peter Gutwein. The Opposition has taken this to mean that Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma is not prioritising the needs of problem gamblers. “The Liberal government is clearly prepared to leave people behind with a heartless cut rather than help those in need,” Ms White says.
“Jacquie Petrusma is living on another planet if she thinks a campaign to reduce the social harm of gambling is non-essential.” Petrusma has hit back against these claims and stated that the funding has not been reduced for problem gambling research, prevention, education and treatment.
She confirms that the Tasmanian government does indeed prioritise the needs of problem gamblers, and a new strategy will be developed for the state’s Gambling Support Program. In Tasmania, 50% of all profits raised by poker machine are used to fund problem gambling support services.
So, while campaign funding has been slashed, there is still plenty of money being spent on services that aim to promote responsible gambling and reduce problem gambling rates in the state.
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