Even the discussion of a possible sale of Lotterywest that we have seen recently is disruptive to newsagency businesses and their plans – as we saw was the case in the lead up to state owned lottery enterprises elsewhere in Australia.
While WA Today reported on this prior to Christmas, it really only reached the radar of newsagents over the last couple of days thanks to Twitter.
I expect there will be considerable lobbing from newsagents, community groups and others calling for the government to retain ownership of Lotterywest for the benefit of the community. You only have to look at Lotterywest’s approved grants page to see the valuable community connection. I’d be surprised to see this continue under private ownership.
This is crazy but not unexpected as the barnett govt is looking for money to pay for all the other stuff.
Newsagents WA lets start a campaign to ensure it doesnt happen. tell your customers and send to your MP lets get a ground swell going. The community receives great benefits from lotterywest if they sell the money is gone forever into that big hole called consolidated revenue.
Hopefully this is one of the no thought thought bubbles the barnett govt is becoming famous for. The WA public is proud of our no pokies in pubs, govt owned lotterwest gambling policies and a lot consider their lotto spend a donation as the money goes to community grants. I expect the public will scream as loud as the lotterywest retailers if this happens. I note this is just an airy fairy might happen in the future statement,as I say a no thought thought bubble.
Why all this nonsense. If lotterywest was sold the Govt continues to collect taxes and the freed up capital could be better used.