"Gambler Admits Theft Lie"

by Julia Nelson

"Gambler admits theft lie" screams the headline of a prominently placed article in The Moreland Courier on 29 June 1998. It catches the eye and will have a good readership.

The article is about Tracey, a client of the Northern Problem Gambling Service in Melbourne. She had previously requested a letter from the Magistrate. The letter advised the Court that Tracey was receiving help with her gambling habit which had become her way of dealing with a number of unresolved personal issues. One was the death of her grandfather, in the week prior to the offence that led to the Court appearance.

The offence was that of a false report to police. Tracey had won and lost $500 on the pokies and in trying account for her loss, phoned police to report an alleged theft and attempted rape. Police contacted the hotel where she had been gambling, found that she was a heavy gambler, and re-interviewed her. She admitted to lying and was charged. She pleaded guilty in Court. The Magistrate accepted the plea, ordered her to pay $300, but did not record a conviction.

The Moreland Courier reported the case including the client's name, age, address, and occupation. Tracey had been working in a gaming venue. The effect of not having a conviction recorded is that Tracey would still be eligible to hold a gambling licence. The effect of printing her name is that she will be unlikely to ever work the area again.

Had Tracey been in the habit of committing crimes, she might have known to request suppression of her name. She may also have known that all matters before the Courts may be reported, including names and addresses. But, she didn't know, and only found out through reading the local paper, just like her neighbours and friends did.

When she contacted her counselling service, in a very distressed state, we could only wonder at the purpose of such a report. Was it meant to punish her, to publicly humiliate her? Was it meant to be a lesson to others? If the latter were the case, the whole story could have been printed without identification. If the Magistrate appointed to uphold the law decided not to punish her, then what right had the newspaper?

I wanted to ask the journalist of their intent, and their interpretation of public interest, but I couldn't. The article was unattributed and the editor advised that she would not disclose the report's identity. If the public have a right to know all the details of the case, then they surely have the right to know who reported the case, and ultimately what effect that report has had on the perpetrator's life.

Problem gambling often develops as a coping mechanism for people who are sad, lonely, or depressed. It's a behaviour that often hurts the player while distracting them from greater pain. It's not a rational behaviour and its quite different to the recreational gambling that many of us enjoy.

It's not unusual for our clients to end up before the Courts, and many of the cases are sensational. They will be reported. The people behind the cases are often tragic and many are grasping for understanding of their actions. Just as they must live with the consequences, I believe that journalists should think of the consequences of their actions. In whose interest should names be published? What purpose does it serve?

Julia Nelson

[Julia Nelson works with the Northern Problem Gambling Service in Melbourne]

see also
Report on Public Forum on Gambling

Index on courts and contempt material

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