Gambling harm
Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (09:52): I speak today about gambling. Gambling throughout the western suburbs is on the rise and continues to be a pressing issue for many in my community. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has revealed that Brimbank recorded the highest amount of player loss—$55.18 million—from electronic gambling machines in the state between July 2021 and January 2022. The highest monthly loss was recorded in December last year, $14.98 million—that is almost $15 million. The data also showed that the monthly amount lost at Melton venues rose to more than $7.2 million in March this year. The total amount of gambling in Melton for the current financial year is over $20 million.
A councillor in Hume is calling for the SBS to stop broadcasting gambling advertisements. According to a federal government commissioned study from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, CALD people who gamble are more likely to develop complex problems and are also often less likely to seek help due to the social stigma and shame. These figures are really disturbing, and more needs to be done to curb gambling losses throughout Victoria.