Public Backs Newsagents' Lottery Call
Media Release
March 27 2009
Public Backs Newsagents' Lottery Call
Newsagency customers across New South Wales have rallied in their thousands to ensure the NSW Lotteries business doesn't fall into the wrong hands threatening the collapse of some local community based newsagencies.
A petition drawn up by The Australian Newsagents' Federation (ANF) and placed on the counter of newsagencies across the state, calls for a conditional halt in the State Government's privatisation process.
ANF CEO Anthony Matis said the petition calls for certain considerations to be met before the sale process and negotiations continue any further.
"We want a comprehensive and independent social and economic impact statement undertaken before any decision is made on who takes over NSW Lotteries," Mr Matis said.
"NSW Lottery tickets have been available in newsagencies since 1931 and the right to sell this product forms the cornerstone of many of these small businesses. Before this is lost to newsagencies we want a transparent and thorough process undertaken so public submissions can be heard in full.
"This petition will be tabled in State Parliament to alert the Members of the Legislative Assembly to the concerns of the people of New South Wales regarding the potential impact on the viability of community based newsagencies, local shopping precincts. the integrity of NSW Lotteries, employment and the economy," he said.
Owner/Operator of Hawks Nest Newsagency on the Central Coast, Hugo Elstermann said the petition has received more support than any he can remember.
"We have had a number of pages signed now. We often have petitions on our counter but I can't recall one being so actively signed by customers, Hugo said.
Anthony Matis said the newsagency industry is simply calling for a full public disclosure of all the advice the government is seeking a receiving on this issue.
"We have requested from the Government answers to a number of comprehensive questions regarding the process that has been undertaken. We have not received any satisfactory explanation on the detail that is being addressed.
"We're simply calling for transparency and want public disclosure of any advice obtained by the Government, its Ministers, Departments and agencies which relates to the proposed privatisation.
Mr Matis said newsagencies in New South Wales have been the primary agents for NSW Lotteries since the very first lottery went on sale in August 1931.
"Since that time NSW Lotteries has paid around $14 billion in prizes to hundreds of thousands of winners and has been able to raise over $7 billion for State Government infrastructure.
Newsagents play a major role in the success of this business and should have a say in who the NSW Government passes it to.
"I think the buying public will drop NSW Lotteries like a hot potato if there is any perception that the privatisation of this entity smacks of big business. There is a lot of money involved here and what the Government does should be totally transparent."
For Further information contact Anthony Matis at ANF on 0407 278 142
or Geoff Mullins at Pan Communications on 0402 070 225