5th Dec 11

Six weeks ago the Sydney Morning Herald revealed the extent of poker machine use in Fairfield under the heading "The machines that are draining a city". The article revealed:

"Clubs in Fairfield own about 4 per cent of the state's total. Not only is there an above-average number of poker machines in Fairfield per head of population, but the machines are played at almost double the intensity of machines in other suburbs."

Yesterday the Sunday Telegraph published an article revealing the level of welfare reliance in the same local government area. We have used the RSS feed to place it on the front page of our website. The article highlights lack of local employment options, the inadequacy of public transport options to enable resident to reach the jobs that are available in the area and the language barrier faced by new migrants and refugees.

When the two articles are read together some important questions emerge.

Why does an area with almost twice the Sydney average of unemployment benefits put more than double the amount through poker machines than the next highest local government area?

Why does the greatest concentration of poker machines coincide with the greatest concentration of economic vulnerability?

Is this coincidence duplicated elsewhere in New South Wales?

Do clubs and pubs target the most economically vulnerable communities in their placement of poker machines?

Is it time for policy makers to join the dots?