COUNTRY Labor Candidate for the Northern Tablelands Debra O’Brien said on Wednesday that a NSW Labor Government will enact laws to protect local newsagents as the primary distribution agents for NSW Lotteries.
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In the face of new agreements that will allow major supermarket chains into the franchise network about 1500 newsagents and other small businesses, including those located in the Inverell region, will face financial hardship and possible closure when the current Agency Protection Period expires in April.
“I’ve been talking with local newsagents in my town of Armidale, and will be visiting Inverell in a few weeks to hear the concerns of Inverell newsagents,” Ms O’Brien said.
“What they have told me is that allowing the big supermarkets to sell lottery tickets would be a huge hit on their business and yet another blow to the regional small businesses.
“One newsagent also expressed fears that not having geographical exclusivity meant that he had no security. If the franchise decides that they prefer a shop down the road, then that source of income is suddenly stopped.”
Ms O’Brien said Labor would protect local newsagents by enacting laws to preserve the current agency protections, until such time as the parties reach agreement on new terms, continue to restrict outlets selling lottery products to newsagencies and other small businesses and work with local newsagents and the private operator to ensure a sensible commercial arrangement is established that is fair to all parties.
“Local newsagents have always been central to our town centres and bring a lot of people into our local shopping centres, A Labor Government will take action and put in place laws that will ensure that local newsagent remain the primary distributor for NSW lotteries,” Ms O’Brien said.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said he supported the right for newsagents to continue to have exclusive rights to sell lottery tickets, however Labor was only offering to fix a problem they had created.
“I don’t want to be partisan here, but this problem arose because the previous government sold Lotteries in 2010 and came up with a decision to limit the exclusivity to five years,” Mr Marshall said.
“There are negotiations taking place among the newsagent’s representatives, the Tatts Group and the government to find a solution that suits all parties going forward on a permanent basis from April 1.
“Interestingly though, when this agreement was signed up, he newsagent’s association signed off as well on the five year exclusivity. Now what’s certainly come to light, if you talk to any newsagent they’ll tell you, they’ve been poorly represented by their peak organisation.”
