Page 1198 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2015

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(b) following elements impacting on the future of the ACT clubs sector:

(i) government gaming reforms;

(ii) revenue and profitability;

(iii) legislation and regulations;

(iv) taxation and charges;

(v) land development and sales;

(vi) problem gambling;

(vii) diversification and mergers;

(viii) new business models;

(ix) poker machines and gambling technologies; and

(x) water and resource management; and

(2) resolves that:

(a) a Select Committee be established to inquire and report into the future of the clubs industry in the ACT;

(b) the committee will be comprised of one member of the Government, one member of the Opposition and a member of the cross bench with proposed members to be nominated to the Speaker by 4 pm this sitting day;

(c) the chair of the committee is a member of the Opposition; and

(d) the committee report by the last sitting day 2015 with a response from the Government by the first sitting day 2016.

This is a very important motion about a very important part of the ACT community. The ACT clubs sector contributes greatly to the wellbeing and amenity of the people of the ACT and has a huge impact on the economy of the ACT, whether it be through the employment it provides, the simple consumption from every local baker and butcher to stock its restaurants, its payments to the government through various forms of taxation, and the attractions it provides for the tourism industry, particularly the visiting friends and relatives sector. As such, the sector has suffered in the last decade or so, particularly with the downturn in electronic gaming—poker machines. As one of the treasurers of one of the biggest club groups in the ACT noted in an annual report some years ago, the golden age of pokies is over. I think that treasurer is correct.

Some clubs have started the process of diversifying their base so that they can continue to deliver the high quality of service and amenity to their members, but for others it has been difficult. In particular, the small clubs have found the last decade

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