Problem Gambling Foundation's death notice was premature

The Problem Gambling Foundation has won a year's further reprieve. Photo / Christine Cornege

Sixteen months after a Government decision to end most of its contracts, the Problem Gambling Foundation has won a year's further reprieve.

Foundation chief executive Graeme Ramsey says the Ministry of Health has decided to extend its contract for a fourth time, this time until next June, because the High Court has still not issued a judgment on the foundation's appeal against a ministry decision in March last year to give its main contracts to the Salvation Army.

"The Ministry has advised us that the decision to extend current contracts has been made due to the continued uncertainty of the outcome and date of the High Court judgment," he says.

"This is good news for PGF. It provides certainty for our staff and clients after a long period of uncertainty and anxiety."

The appeal hearing ended on September 20 last year and Mr Ramsey says the High Court's target is to deliver judgments within six months.

"We are well pas that now," he says. "We have been given no explanation. We are just going to have to wait. The Court has told us it could still be a while away."

He says all of the foundation's 63 staff are still employed and meeting contract targets.

The Salvation Army, which was awarded most of the contracts the foundation lost in a national tender, started advertising for staff in March last year.

The decision to move the work from the Problem Gambling Foundation, leaving it with only its Asian community services, was widely suspected to be linked to the foundation's outspoken campaigning against expansion of the gambling industry, including a controversial Government deal giving Sky City Casino an extra 230 pokie machines for 30 years in exchange for building a new convention centre.