Darcy Byrne, the Labor mayor of Sydney's Inner West Council, is at the forefront of a grassroots movement to curb gambling harm, pushing for a reduction in poker machines in licensed clubs across New South Wales. His efforts come as the federal Labor party faces criticism over its commitment to online gambling reform.
Comparing the Pokies Lobby to the NRA
Byrne, a rising Labor star, drew parallels between the poker machine lobby and the US National Rifle Association, highlighting the influence of gambling interests on policy. He spoke to Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy about his successful motion at this month's NSW Labor conference, which calls for tougher gambling policies at the next state election.
Momentum for Reform
According to Byrne, there is 'unstoppable' momentum for reform, as communities demand action on gambling harm. 'We've had a gutful of politicians failing to act on harm from the pokies,' he said, emphasizing that this is a critical moment for NSW Labor. The push comes amid reports of surging pokies revenue, which advocates say proves the state government has failed to reduce gambling harm as promised.
Grassroots Movement Gains Traction
The Inner West Council motion, passed at the NSW Labor conference, signals a shift in party policy. Byrne's leadership reflects growing public concern over the social and economic costs of poker machines, which are prevalent in many clubs across the state. The movement aims to reduce the number of machines and implement stricter regulations to protect vulnerable communities.
