Page 4033 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 17 November 2015
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This government is committed to continuing to explore opportunities to best assist clubs to remain viable well into the future. It has delivered on this commitment through the ongoing implementation of commitments through the memorandum of understanding with clubs; significant reductions in red tape over the past 18 months, while continuing to work with ClubsACT about how we can do more of that; changes to tax rates that provide a benefit to all clubs but are particularly geared to helping our small and medium size clubs; and significant reforms delivered as part of the gaming machine reform package, which include commencement of the trading scheme, a reduction of gaming machine numbers in the territory and more assistance for our small clubs.
Through the community clubs task force the government is providing practical assistance to help clubs diversify their business operations. To date, we have listened to the concerns of seven clubs and have successfully addressed the concerns of three. We are continuing to work with the remaining clubs to help them achieve their objectives.
I am, and have always been, approachable and ready to provide the support that I can to clubs. To further enhance operation of the community clubs task force the government has agreed, or agreed in principle, with all of the standing committee’s recommendations relating to the task force. The coordination and accessibility of the government are also seen in the services provided by Access Canberra, which is a one-stop shop for government approvals, and which has proactively engaged with the club sector since it was established in November last year.
We remain committed to preserving a strong harm minimisation framework to protect vulnerable problem gamblers and their families within the ACT. That is why we have either agreed or agreed in principle with many of the standing committee’s recommendations relating to harm minimisation. We will continue to work to ensure that vulnerable members of our community are provided with the best consumer protections that we can provide.
In closing, I want to again thank the standing committee, the community clubs and those who have made comments. I recognise the presence of ClubsACT here today. No doubt they have a keen interest in the government’s response. I will now work across the club sector—as would be appreciated, the committee report was handed down on 27 October, which is not that long ago—so that our positions are clear about what is agreed, agreed in principle and the like.
My job over the coming weeks is to work across government on those elements that it has been agreed will progress, with a clear work program very early in the new year about what we will get on to. My priority and my task for the new year will be to have a very clear time line about how we progress these elements that are worth progressing.
I want to thank the committee. I look forward to ongoing discussions with ClubsACT to make sure that our community clubs here in Canberra are supported, because they support our community in the broadest and deepest sense.
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