MEDIA STATEMENT
Te Ururoa Flavell
MP for Waiariki
30 June 2012

Allegations of Corruption in Gambling Industry must be scrutinised says Flavell

The damning allegations by former Community Gaming Association executive director, Francis Wevers, must be taken seriously by all politicians says Gambling Reform MP, Te Ururoa Flavell.

“Mr Wevers has characterised the pokie industry as ‘corrupt’, telling us in no uncertain terms that this is a business with “endemic non-compliance”.

“Over the last few weeks we have learnt that Pub Charity Chief Executive Martin Cheer was using gaming machine money to fight my Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill. We have also heard from the Lion Foundation that legislative reform is necessary to address some of the problems in the charitable gaming sector and increase the returns to the community

“The revelations in the Herald this morning that the current system gave the hospitality sector too much power, make it even more evident that gambling reform is necessary. My bill will clean up the industry, protect families from the harm of problem gambling as well as get the profits from the proceeds of gambling back to the community from whence it has come.

“Mr Wevers puts it out there in black and white – there are some within the industry doing their best to ‘avoid the law’ and in doing so, corrupting the intent of Parliament”.

““I fully expect all political parties to examine the evidence put to the Commerce Committee by Mr Wevers, and apply the level of scrutiny it would appear the sector warrants. Some politicians have based their reputation on sniffing out supposed scandals in pursuit of a headline. Well this is a scandal occupying the front page - and all of us are honour-bound to find a solution, to minimise the harm done, and keep those funds back in the communities”.

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