Gaming & Racing

Lee has used the gaming & racing portfolio to lobby for tougher gambling laws and more funding for gambling prevention services, tightening the licensing and regulation of alcohol, and the relationship between Star City Casino and NSW Labor.

Advice to Premier: stand up to more pokies push and throw off puppet tag

Greens MP and gambling spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW government to resist the latest push from the club industry to increase the number of poker machines and to have the tax on these machines reduced.

NSW Lotteries sale signals long term losses to public purse

Greens MP and gaming spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has criticised the sale of NSW Lotteries to Tatts Group Ltd, saying the Government is selling off a reliable source of public revenue that will result in long term losses to the public purse.

Big Labor donor Star City Casino wins less regulation

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on the Premier Nathan Rees to withdraw a government bill that considerably loosens regulation of the Star City Casino and grants it further opportunities to boost profits.

'Gambling Help' $2.4m plan just cosmetic surgery

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today the government's three year, $2.4 million 'Gambling Help' plan is an act of cosmetic policy making which shows up its abject failure to restrict gambling opportunities, properly fund treatment services and restructure the NSW bureaucracy to make gambling the responsibility of NSW Health.

Million-dollar bailout not justified - time to shutdown NSW Game Council

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today that the NSW Game Council should be wound up as there was no justification for the NSW government putting millions of dollars into the body that Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald promised would be self funding. (SMH, 27 April 2009, page 5)

O'Farrell fails to address problem gambling: large club donations to blame?

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell to stop taking money from the clubs movement to avoid the perception that his party's policies on gambling will be skewed by political donations (page 5, Sydney Morning Herald today).

Pokie surge in Newcastle – long term reduction targets needed

Responding to today's report that the number of poker machines in Newcastle has increased, Greens MP and gambling spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the NSW government is failing problem gamblers and has not honoured its own commitment to reduce the number of machines in low-socio economic areas.

Expansion plan for animated race gambling not justified

Greens MP and gambling spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the gambling game Trackside, presently restricted to casinos, should not be rolled out in TABs across the state.

Govt must knock back NSW club’s push for more pokies

Greens MP and gambling spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW government to knock back the latest push by a number of NSW clubs to increase their poker machine numbers. (Sunday Telegraph today).

Casino dodges smoking ban - serious health risk

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Health Minister John Della Bosca to cancel the exemption granted by NSW Health to Star City Casino and ban smoking in all VIP areas and high roller rooms. (Daily Telegraph, page 11, 18 June 2009)