Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, with Moree’s Balo Square Newsagency proprietors Rhonda and Archie Karam.
Tuesday, 10 July 2018
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announced a three-year extension to an agreement with Tabcorp to not allow sales of NSW Lotteries products in supermarkets until at least 31 March 2021.
Mr Marshall made the announcement at Moree’s Balo Square Newsagents and said the agreement would extend support for the small business owners and newsagents who sell lotteries products allowing them more time to diversity and adjust to the market.
“Almost every community across the Northern Tablelands has at least one newsagency and they are an essential part of our communities,” Mr Marshall said.
“The revenue from selling Lotto products is vital to the survival of our country newsagents and today’s news will alleviate concerns about the potential impact on businesses if lottery product sales were extended to supermarkets.
“I welcome this announcement – it is great news for our region.
“It is important that our local newsagents know this government is working with them through a time of change, so they can keep their doors open, providing great products and services to our local communities.”
Moree’s Balo Square Newsagent Archie Karam also warmly welcomed the announcement.
“This is a win for small country newsagents and a victory for commonsense,” Mr Karam said.
“Securing the extension of these protections has been an important priority because it delivers certainty for newsagents. I really appreciate this and I thank Adam for his efforts on behalf of all newsagents.”
Mr Marshall said the extension would allow newsagents to continue growing and evolving their businesses.
“This outcome delivers an extension period that will make sure newsagents remain the primary outlets for the sale of lottery products,” he said. “This is a good thing for consumers and businesses and it means that lotteries will continue to operate in a highly regulated way.”
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, with up to $10,000 per newsagent. This funding remains available.