Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest has welcomed the three-year extension to an agreement with Tabcorp to not extend lottery sales to supermarket chains until at least 31 March 2021.
“This announcement is about making sure our local newsagents know this government is working with them through a time of change, so they can keep creating jobs, and providing great products and services to our local community.”
Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW, Minister for Skills and Minister for Small Business, Mr Barilaro, said the agreement is great news for lottery agents across NSW, especially the regions.
“Lottery products are an important component of the products that newsagents sell, and this MoU will alleviate concerns about the potential impact on businesses if lottery product sales were extended to supermarket chains,” Mr Barilaro said.
CEO of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) Adam Joy has also welcomed the announcement.
“This is a win for small business and a victory of common sense,” My Joy said.
“Securing the extension of these protections for our members has been an important priority area that ALNA has been working diligently on with the Minister’s office.
“Lotteries don’t operate in a free market because governments regulate their access to consumers. This is a good thing for consumers and businesses, and it means that lotteries will continue to operate in a highly regulated way,” he said.
General Manager of ALNA NSW, Ibram Kamil, who is also a newsagent, said the extension would allow lottery agents to continue growing and evolving their businesses.
“This outcome, thanks to the support of the NSW Government, delivers certainty for newsagents and lottery agents. I know our members are going to really appreciate this,” he said.
In 2015 the NSW Government created the $15 million Newsagent Assistance Fund to support newsagents to update their lottery point of sale shop fit outs. This funding remains available for pre-existing eligible newsagency businesses that are yet to update their lottery retail image. For more information, please visit admin.accounts@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au