-- We're writing to ask your opinion on this important campaign - please keep in mind that the choices below only inform next steps on the pokies reform campaign, and won't detract from GetUp continuing to campaign on other issues that you and other Getup members care about. --
Clubs Australia has officially declared victory on the war for pokies reform. The industry thinks it's safe to go back to business as usual; reaping 40% of their pokies revenue from gambling addicts who can least afford it.[1]
We're in a position to tell them it's far from over, but it will take all of us if winning this fight means no longer relying on Canberra to do the right thing. We've put together a plan for the next steps of the campaign, but first we want to know - what would you like to do?
We've got two options - to just wait for Canberra to finally sort this problem out; or to focus on the companies that are significantly contributing to the problem, companies like Woolworths and Wesfarmers (the owner of Coles).
In November more than 76,000 of us signed a petition for reform that we delivered to Woolworths' Chairman James Strong at Woolworths' Annual General Meeting. More than eight thousand of us have emailed the CEOs of Wesfarmers and Woolies, asking them to clarify their position on pokies and to adopt meaningful reform. But there's plenty more we could do to move these companies into cleaning up their own machines, which accounts for a tiny fraction of their revenue but contributes significantly to the problem.
We know this strategy can work because in our communications with Woolworths and Wesfarmers they have acknowledged concerns about their pokies business and realise the brand risk associated with continuing to profit from gambling addicts.
Continuing the fight to stop the loss from poker machine addiction will take energy and resolve, but there are many GetUp members and Australian families who are counting on us to keep up the pressure.
Should we pursue this campaign?
Yes - continue fighting for reform by targeting pokies owners such as Coles and Woolworths
No - don't pursue this campaign
Clubs Australia ran a dirty and dishonest campaign but it was effective. It wore the Government down until it broke its promise to Andrew Wilkie.
While the Government drags its feet, here's what a campaign could look like if we move forward:
1) Take the fight out of Canberra:
We know that power lies just as much in board rooms as it does in Parliament. If we can leverage the brand vulnerability of the big players who are responsible for contributing to the problem, they can trail blaze the way forward to lasting legislative change.
2) Target the corporate players who can really make a difference:
Two of these companies are Woolworths and Coles. Together, they own or control more pokie machines than the top 5 Las Vegas casinos combined.[2] Woolworths alone is the largest owner and operator of poker machines in Australia. It makes sense that they should want to do the right thing for the communities they serve on this issue not just because it's something the majority of Australians want [3], but also because it's relatively painless for them: the revenue these trusted grocery giants make from their pokies business is a very small fraction of their overall earnings and yet the damage these machines inflict is huge.
3) Provide them with a feasible, researched and effective solution:
The Productivity Commission and independent researchers say that limiting bets to $1 per spin and capping losses at $120 is most effective in protecting problem gamblers.[4] It's called the "1/120 solution." The technology to transform machines already exists and industry sources tell us that the cost of updating software - especially given that game software is routinely updated anyway - is nominal for companies such as Woolworths and Wesfarmers who make profits in the billions each year.
Campaigning these companies to accept this solution will need grassroots lobbying from customers and employees. It will also require us to mobilise shareholders to continue to make this a top issue for the Boards of these companies. We've got tried and tested tactics we can all use together, but focusing on these companies will require our movement to come together behind this campaign. Should we pursue this campaign?
Yes - go after the root cause and roll-out a corporate campaign focusing on brand vulnerable companies who are profiting from pain
http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/pokies-reform/pokies-corporate-campaig...
No - don't continue this campaign http://surveys.getup.org.au/s3/Pokies-Corporate-Campaign?t=dXNlcmlkPTEwM...
GetUp has always been driven by its members - 600,000 Australians who believe that together we can create a fairer, more just, more sustainable future. That's why your view matters.
Thanks for letting us know where you stand,
The GetUp team
P.S. Your vote on this issue will determine our way forward. If the majority of votes are in favour of moving forward, we'll let you know the next steps in the campaign. http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/pokies-reform/pokies-corporate-campaig...
Notes:
[1] 'Gambling Report Volume I (Report NO 50)', Australian Productivity Commission, 26 February, 2010.
[2] 'Woolworths hits the jackpot with pokies after signing deal with Laundy hotel group', Daily Telegraph. November 11, 2011
[3] 'Essential Report: GetUp Poll', Essential Research. 30 January, 2012.
[4] 'Evidence and social policy: the case of gambling', Speech to South Australian Centre for Economic Studies. Gary Banks. 30 March, 2011.
