Here is a press release from ALNA on today’s announcement:
Lottery protections extended by NSW Government
Protections that prevent lotteries from being sold in large supermarket chains have been extended to 2021 by the NSW Government, to protect consumers and small business.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Australia, 9 July 2018: The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA), is pleased that today Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro has announced a three-year extension to an agreement with Tabcorp to not open up lottery sales to large supermarket chains.
Adam Joy, CEO of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) said, “This is a win for small business and a victory of common sense. Securing the extension of these protections for our members has been an important priority area ALNA has been working diligently on with Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro.
“Minister Barilaro has been a long-time supporter of our industry, and ALNA continues to maintain a productive working relationship with the NSW Government on lotteries and other important legislation and regulatory matters that support our channel. We greatly appreciate his efforts and leadership to deliver what is a really positive extension period, which makes sure newsagents will continue as the primary outlets for the sale of lottery products.
“Lotteries don’t operate in a free market because gambling products aren’t like other products, which is why governments regulate their access to consumers. This is a good thing for consumers and provides safeguards to them and the 1,400 lottery agents who sell lottery tickets in NSW.
“By the NSW Government signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with Tabcorp, newsagents can be assured that they will not be competing with large supermarket chains to sell lottery products. This extension follows on from positive news of last month’s amendment to the Interactive Gambling Bill, which will make lotto betting prohibited in Australia by early 2019. We are pleased to have helped bring these assurances to our members.”
Ibram Kamil, General Manager of ALNA NSW, and also a newsagent, commented, “This outcome for newsagents and lottery agents allows us to continue growing and evolving our businesses with certainty and strong support from the NSW Government. I know they are going to really appreciate this.”
On behalf of our NSW members and their staff, the ALNA thanks the NSW Government for its efforts to extend the agreement with Tabcorp to not make lottery sales available to large supermarket chains, to protect NSW consumers and to champion these small businesses. And we encourage them to continue important support for our member small business news and lottery agents.
“The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association will continue to provide strong advocacy for our members, including to help newsagents receive better deals on the lottery products that they are legally permitted to sell,” concluded Mr Joy.
While there will be some who say what about online or what about commissions, in my view this is a good win for newsagents by ALNA, something to celebrate and appreciate by small business lottery retailers.
Who actually achieved this Mark? Ultimately it is the politician who has achieved this but the pressure had to come from within the Newsagency Industry.
ALNA or NANA? Communication from ALNA indicated they had indicated extending the protection period was not a high priority whilst communication from NANA indicated this was a priority. Both associations are claiming the victory.
Also, I find the last paragraph ironic, as when did ALNA last “receive better deals on the lottery products that they are legally permitted to sell”
For me as a retailer, the priority should be achieving what they proclaim in ALNA’s final paragraph. Less talk, more action on actually achieving a greater income.
You’re right Amanda, let’s not give ALNA credit for anything, ever.
Nuts. This is what it is, a good step forward. The alternative is they do nothing on these things for you.
This is the problem with some Newsagents
They are negative I thought this was extremely good news?
It shows there is strength in numbers as I said before united we stand divided we fall that goes for ALNA and NANA as well we collectively have more power with the public at large being our customers than most politician would dream about.
There you go getting cranky again Mark without looking into the matter further.
I simply asked a question, as I had read previously information indicating ALNA were not too interested in extending the MOU.
I then received an Announcement from NANA:
“NANA supplied extensive information to the Deputy Premier to help him get the extension over the line and briefed his staff on several occasions to demonstrate the valid need to extend the MOU. It is interesting that ALNA has claimed the win, however when dealing with the Deputy Premier’s senior advisers, NANA was told ALNA didn’t see the moratorium as an issue and were not interested in pursuing the extension. Thankfully, NANA pressed on.”
And so I asked who is actually responsible. Sorry for not jumping on the ALNA band wagon when I had received correspondence that contradicted what ALNA had claimed.
Peter, I wasn’t being negative, I was merely trying to find out who was actually responsible. Both ALNA and NANA are playing political games trying to get membership numbers. This is nothing new, it has gone on for many years now.
In regards to my comments on ALNA providing NSW newsagents with better deals on the lottery products they sell, why is this a negative comment. ALNA have not achieved a better deal for NSW Newsagents on lottery products that they sell, so why say this is what they do?
Not cranky at all Amanda. I think you are wrong is all.
Here are some facts that support the work ALNA has done on this:
1. ALNA distributed a newsletter on its work on March 8: https://mailchi.mp/anf/alna-weekly-newsletter-1721989?e=14d486b962
2. ALNA wrote to the deputy premier March 1st: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b5bc34fac2c2ee0c4430c21aa/files/72ca2378-46a6-4fa2-bc20-a3993b692621/ALNA_request_to_extend_moratorium_period_in_Memorandum_of_Understanding_1318.pdf
3. The deputy premier’s release which quotes ALNA not NANA.
Cor*rection- NSW Government extends Lottery protection for Lottery Agent Franchisees.
See letter from Nicola Swarbrick State retail Manager NSW Lotteries. sent Monday July 9.
Dear Retailer, etc not once does it mention newsagents associations however it mentions
The NSW Government and NSW Lotteries acknowledgethat Lottery products are an important component of the product mix
that newsagents, pharmacies,kiosks,convenience fuel outlets and convenience stores and other retailer businesses sell.
Curently more retailers other than newsagents attend Lottery training for franchise approval per session in NSW on a regular basis. Newsagents still represent the largest number of outlets for NSW Lottery Franchises in NSW and ACT.
Amanda does it really matter who’s responsible it’s just a great result for Newsagency’s isn’t it?
That’s my point Peter and I think it really is Amanda’s all Amand is saying is that two are claiming it’s their influence and NSW Lotteries do not acknowledge either.
Amanda taes in her original post the ultimately it is the politician that ius responsible-too true and therefore everyone has a bit after all there is an election looming and small business? well? this is the time to get your message across as you emplo 60 percent of the work force.
The telling point is that the Minister chose to include ALNA in the announcement.
Every day oxygen is given to state based representative groups is a day lost for the challenged channel.
lOTTERIES in origin and in practice are State based.
NSW Lotteries. Newspaper contracts are State based.. This is a State based issued Lotteries commented on their part in their letter.
The main driver was the newsagent Chris Gender who personally talked with the Deputy Premier months and months before ALNA came into the picture.
It was a single newsagent that took up the cause and discussed wthe NANA Ltd who supported it.
They are the facts, I spoke with both parties and the Federal Minister for small business, who correctly refered the matter to the State as it is a matter for them
I trust this clears up who’s who in the Zoo.
As Mark said: The telling point is that the Minister chose to include ALNA in the announcement.
Every day oxygen is given to state based representative groups is a day lost for the challenged channel.
Talk about a zoo with people trying to take credit. The minister made it clear.
Peter it does’nt matter to me who is responsible, as long as a positive outcome is achieved for NEWSAGENTS. Not corner stores selling lotto or tobacconists selling lotto.
I am sick of ALNA and NANA both taking credit for the slightest of achievements.
As an individual retailer, I can negotiate with card, gift and stationery suppliers to receive supply, negotiate terms and even exclusivity to a territory.
As a member of a marketing / buying group I can receive further discounts, exclusive lines and other incentives. But even these groups have chosen not to negotiate or are not strong enough to negotiate with the likes of G&G, Nationwide News, Fairfax or Tatts to achieve better financial terms for there members.
The three categories I cannot negotiate as a individual or marketing group member are Lotteries, Newspapers and Magazines. These are the 3items that they are responsible for negotiating on behalf of the newsagency industry that individual newsagents cannot negotiate on behalf of themselves and the major reason these associations exist.
So Tabcorp, Pacific Publications, Bauer Media, News Ltd, Fairfax Media should be the key suppliers ALNA or NANA focus on achieving greater financial reward for there members. They should not be “key partners” who donate to annual awards nights.
The major problem is however, neither ALNA or NANA have achieved a positive financial remuneration outcome for NSW agents in regards to Lotteries, Magazines or Newspapers since Jesus was a boy.
Amanda, what you have said about magazines and marketing groups is not accurate. I will not go into it here. If anyone wants to know more they should contact each marketing group and ask.
Just thought I’d put my bit in here. I started lobbying my local member September 2017. She arranged a meeting for me with the Premier in October at my newsagency. At that point she was unaware that the MOU was due to expire and stated that she had not heard from either of our representative bodies. The Premier was excellent to talk to and arranged for me to have further discussions with Mr Barilaro’s office manager. These discussions were ongoing until February this year when everything went quiet. I finally got a personal meeting with Mr Barilaro himself in Port Macquarie at the end of May. He informed me that they had done nothing about the MOU because of the conflict between ALNA & NANA in their opinion of what was required. ALNA was not interested in extending the MOU. He believed that their focus was solely on Lottoland. I have spoken to Adam Joy and he assured me that this was incorrect and they had lobbied for the extention. I will take him on his word. I do know that Ian Booth from NANA worked extremely hard with me on trying to extend the MOU for a period of ten years or more. My meeting with Mr Barilaro went for about one hour and he listened intently to what I had to say and how important it was to Newsagents to have the MOU extended. I was able to straighten all his misconceptions about what was happening in the industry and how important it was for Government to regulate certain aspects. It was that or find most of us on the dole within a few years as for most of us, our business is our super fund. He obviously listened and extended the MOU. The fight isn’t over yet, there is more that I am working with his office on to help secure our industry and our businesses.
Chris
Thanks Chris for putting the situation straight.
While I do not doubt what Chris has said I am sure there are others who have been equally active as has ALNA. I know of at least three newsagents who have been lobbying for several years. All this fighting about who is responsible is childish. The minister made their position clear in their statement. Move on.
It is about answering a question asked by Amanda.
I am sure we are all aware of everyoine’s input howevre the focus of the Blog was ALNA and ALNA alone. Glad to see it straightened out.