Troy Stolz
Independent for Kogarah
A tireless truthteller dedicated to stopping the societal carnage caused by the powerful pokies and gambling lobby. test
troystolz4kogarah@gmail.com
Why I'm running
In this election there needs to be a candidate completely independent of the power of the gambling industry and ultimately not beholden to the toxic pokie dollar. Chris Minns' proposed reforms are a cop out. It's clear he will not challenge the pubs and clubs. In backing vested interests, he is failing our community. The lack of any meaningful action on pokies and the damage they cause is little more than kicking the problem into touch so millionaires can get rich off other's misery for another four years. A vote for Chris Minns is a vote for continued suffering. It does little to stop organised crime or the huge damage to families. It is time for change. Join me.
"NSW has 40% of the world's pokies in pubs and clubs. The casino and gaming industry in Australia is the equivalent of the NRA. If America's blind spot is guns then ours is gambling."
- Rev Tim Costello
Pokies cause carnage for individuals, families, communities
Over half of NSW adults gamble each year. 8-9% of the population use gaming machines at least once a month.
Almost 20% of gamblers in NSW experience gambling problems.
Addictive gamblers contribute to 40% of gaming machine profits.
Gamblers lost more than $2.1 billion on poker machines in fewer than 100 days last year – the highest losses in NSW history.
Daily profits for pubs and clubs from poker machines hit $23 million a day, as punters’ losses rose 11% last year.
Machines in pubs now account for 44% of all losses, despite housing only 26% of the state’s poker machines.
The average poker machine in NSW now claims almost $100,000 a year in losses.
Between 900,000 to 1.7 million people in NSW are harmed by problem gambling.
Poker machines are used to funnel the proceeds of crime (NSW Crime Commission).
Troy Stolz's Policy platform
1) a mandatory state-wide cashless gaming system
2) A universal independent self-exclusion register to support harm-minimisation
3) A curfew on gambling machines operating between midnight to 10am
4) Support the call of Greg Piper, Alex Greenwich, and Joe McGirr to establish a special commission of inquiry into the undue influence of clubs and pubs
5) An end to any agreements between the NSW Government and the gambling industry that prevent meaningful gambling reform.
Relevant media coverage
‘Sorry Nick. We will kill you all off’: Aristocrat challenged over Xenophon text
Sydney Morning Herald, Feb 23th, 2023. Read article
ClubsNSW drops contempt charges against Friendlyjordies over pokies whistleblower
The Guardian, Feb 16 2023. Read article
Why it’s now a safe bet for politicians to take on gambling reform
Sydney Morning Herald, Jan 30th, 2023. Read article
Troy ready to sieze Kogarah
St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, Jan 24 2023. Read article
ClubsNSW litigation against dying whistleblower an ‘abuse of process’, lawyers say
Sydney Morning Herald, Nov 18th, 2022. Read article
The gambling research organisation that gambling companies love
Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 7th, 2022. Read article
‘I’ve nothing to lose’: Dying whistleblower sued by ClubsNSW
Sydney Morning Herald, Sept 22, 2022. Read article
James Packer hits out at ClubsNSW’s ‘ruthless unethical behaviour’
Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 1st, 2022. Read article
ClubsNSW tells court it’s facing ‘oppressive’ campaign from pokies whistleblower
The Guardian, Aug 23rd 2021. Read article
ClubsNSW seeks court order to stop pokies whistleblower speaking to media
The Guardian, July 17 2021. Read article
Whistleblower says he was blacklisted by ClubsNSW
ABC, March 19 2020. Read article
According to Wesley Mission, in Minn's own backyard, Georges River Local Government Area lost $680,000 a day on pokie machines in the first six months of 2022. Across our great state of NSW alone, a staggering $95 BILLION in turnover goes through pokies a year without any effective controls or data collection.
Of that, $600 million a month goes as profit to the clubs and pubs. Imagine the good that could do if it was spent in our communities.
The solution is a cashless gaming card.
Learn more in this special series
from the Sydney Morning Herald
“Gambling harm encompasses everything from the loss of homes and relationships to the loss of lives through deaths by suicide associated with gambling harm. There are direct connections in some instances between gambling harm and family violence and mental ill-health.”
Rev Tim Costello
This is an independent grassroots campaign, and your help is critical to getting the message out.
Please register your interest to donate to the campaign and sign up for updates.
Email:
troystolz4kogarah@gmail.com