Small newsagencies around Maitland will close and larger ones in the city will suffer a drastic drop in business if Woolworths supermarket giant sells Tatts lottery tickets.
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This was the view of several newsagents on Thursday after Woolworths boss Grant O’Brien said Tatts had approached them to sell lottery tickets.
Several newsagents around Maitland called for action from the NSW government to stop the proposed move, just as the Queensland government had rejected a similar scheme there recently.
The newsagents also asked Maitland MP Robyn Parker to campaign against the proposal, but she was not available for comment on Thursday.
In a single day, Lyn and Lindsay Patfield of Maitland West End Newsagency, collected 130 signatures from customers angry about the proposal.
The couple, who have been in business in Maitland for 12 years, said the plan would affect 1500 newsagencies throughout NSW.
“All newsagents need the public to get behind them on this or we will all be in big trouble,” Mr Patfield said.
“We stock a wide range of magazines and various other items, but we rely on TattsLotto sales as a large part of our business.
“TattsLotto sales bring in many customers who subsequently purchase other items while they are in our shop.
“Newsagents have for a long time been the sole place selling Lotto.”
Mrs Patfield agreed.
“I think about 40 per cent of newsagencies would close down if this comes about,” she said.
“Some rely on Lotto sales, which make up more than 70 per cent of their business.
“We are all just hoping our Maitland member Robyn Parker will be able to do something to help us.”
Beresfield Newspower owner Barry George said: “If Lotto is sold in supermarkets, we would close down.
“We are really concerned about this.
“We are hoping that a motion to stop it will be introduced by the Shooters Party in a private members bill.
“This similar situation was stopped in Queensland from day one.
“Why is this not happening in NSW?”
Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Regional Tourism John Barilaro said: “Make no mistake this is the direct result of a dud deal done by the previous Labor government in an effort to plug a budget black hole.
“As Minister for Small Business it is my job to go into bat for the mums and dads running newsagencies all over this state, and I fully intend to do that.
“This afternoon, I met with the Newsagents Association and gave them an undertaking to work together to get the best deal for small businesses,” Mr Barilaro said on Thursday.
