1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: So there's been a major bust in Pokey fraud. Twenty 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: three people face more than five hundred charges and they're 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: accused of obtaining millions of dollars in grants from Pokey's, 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: follows an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs. Reckons 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: it's the biggest prosecution they've ever started. Peter Dingate Thrush 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: is from the Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand. Hy Peter, 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: very well, thank you, mate. Now explain to me how 8 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: these six charities or incorporated societies have allegedly got the 9 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: money fraudulently. 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: Just start by saying, we don't know who they are, 11 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: so there's a presumption and there's a presumption of innocence. 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: So we're jumping about talking about the actual case. 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: You can use the word allegedly and then it's okay. 14 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: We can if it turns out to be true. My 15 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: members are going to be very disappointed, and I think 16 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: the community is rightfully disgusted by it. 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: Okay, So that who You can't tell us who these 18 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: people are because they've got a name suppression. But are 19 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: they charities and incorporated societies that I may have come 20 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: across or be aware of. 21 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 2: You may well have done. So. The way that the 22 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: system works is that only charitable trusts can get life 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: is from the department to operate the class FO gamling system, 24 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: and then they get another license for each of the venues. 25 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: So they go through a pretty regulated process normally. 26 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: So can you explain to us how they allegedly did this. 27 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 2: I don't know the details of this charge, but there 28 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: are a whole lot of things that seem to be 29 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: coming out of it. One of the allegations seems to 30 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: be that grant moneies which should have gone to the 31 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 2: community have been actually fed back to the society itself, 32 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: and they're supposed to be there's supposed to be a 33 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: big wall between those things happening the societies. There should 34 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: be proper separation between all those things. 35 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it sounds like, and correct me if 36 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: I'm wrong, but it sounds like, at least in one instance, 37 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: what's happened has been alleged creation of a fake employee 38 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: thereby yes, you know, basically sucking out the money. 39 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: Okay, So that's a pretty simple fraud technique that tried 40 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: a number of circumstances that won't be a particularly gamming 41 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: related one. That's just padding the payroll and again, you know, 42 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: that's really a very, very disappointing behavior. 43 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: Now, I imagine that you'd be disappointed because I think pokes 44 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: are already on have have waning support in the community, 45 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 1: and I imagine that you'd be concerned that this will 46 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: erode trust in the system. 47 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: Disappointed, But there's no waning support. There's a very steady 48 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,839 Speaker 2: band of this is a we're a billion dollar industry, Heather, 49 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: part of the hospitality industry, and for nineteen nine percent 50 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: of the players there's no problem. So it's a very 51 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: strong support for gambling in general as part of the 52 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: hospitality industry. 53 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, Peter, it's always good to talk to you. Thanks 54 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: for coming on and having a chat to us about 55 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: a Peter Dingate Thrush, who's the Gaming Machine Association of 56 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: New Zealand spokesperson. 57 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 2: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 58 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 59 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.