THE COUNTRY Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW came together for its annual conference this week for the 95th time, with three motions around online gambling and its advertising brought to the meeting and successfully passed, along with a host of other motions relevant to communities across the State.
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CWA of NSW president Annette Turner said the Kendall, Hornsby and Scone branches proposed the three separate gambling motions out of concern for the rising popularity of online gambling, particularly across sporting codes, and the rapid growth of gambling advertising in the media.
“Three of our branches felt this was an important issue in the community, and overwhelmingly our members across the State agreed. Many families in NSW are doing it tough and we believe promoting gambling so frequently on television, as well as allowing online gambling to operate without the regulations that gambling venues are subject to, will only make things worse,” Annette said.
The CWA of NSW will now adopt a formal policy on the advertising of gambling on television and the regulation of online gambling overall, enabling it to advocate for change as an organisation.
Other motions brought to this year’s conference and successfully passed included:
- In support of seeking comprehensive weather radar coverage for western NSW
- For tighter laws around foreign ownership of farm land, water and agribusiness
- In support of a ban on unconventional gas exploration, extraction and production
- For the continued education of health professionals and the general public around the correct use of antibiotics
- In support of the inclusion of a blood test for thyroid function in the standard blood test for pregnant women in their first trimester
- In support of greater awareness and the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders through women’s health programs
- In support of advocating for the establishment and funding of a cardiac bus service to visit regional and remote areas of NSW
- For equitable access to internet and telephone services in terms of speed, downloads and cost for all rural and regional citizens
- For all grandparents raising grandchildren to be acknowledged and recognised as a separate group in their own right, not as foster carers
Annette said it was great to bring members together to discuss and debate a range of issues via the proposed motions.
“We are a growing, passionate, committed and diverse group of women, and this was seen clearly as we debated each motion. You only have to read through the above list of motions to see how much more there is to the CWA than tea and scones.”
Held this year at Mingara Recreation Club in Tumbi Umbi on the Central Coast, the conference brought members together to debate and discuss the organisation’s policy via a list of motions proposed by branches throughout the State.
Close to 800 delegates, members, observers and visitors descended on the Central Coast during the conference week. The conference was officially opened by NSW Governor David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), accompanied by Mrs Linda Hurley, who also delivered the keynote speech.
The largest women’s organisation in Australia, the CWA has been working since 1922 to improve the living conditions and welfare of women and families.