Legendary AFL coach Kevin Sheedy has called for a national lottery to supercharge fundraising efforts across Australia for bushfire relief and recovery, The Herald Sun reports.
The proud Victorian is adamant a lottery is the most simple way of helping people in dire need and would highlight the Australian spirit.
It comes as bushfire-ravaged Mallacoota is reopened today.
“We’ve got five million people in Victoria, multiply that by $50, $40, $20 — even parents and grandparents would buy their kids a ticket in a $10 lottery,” Sheedy said.
“You’d raise a lot of money and that money would go to the bushfire relief.
“It’s not that hard and it would be a beautiful thing for people that run lotteries to do it.”
There is precedent for goodwill national lotteries in Australia and around the world.
Sports in the UK, including the British Olympic team, have benefited from a national lottery since 1997.
The $102 million to build the Sydney Opera House was largely paid for by a state lottery.
“I’ve got no doubt everybody in Victoria would buy a lottery ticket,” Sheedy said.
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Vic bushfires: Kevin Sheedy urges national lottery to aid recovery (Herald Sun)
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