Page 5134 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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There were 45 club venues and five hotel and tavern gaming machine venues that submitted community contribution reports for last financial year. The 45 club venues made a total community contribution to the value of $11.928 million during the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. This was 12.6 per cent of their net gaming machine revenue, a similar level to the previous financial year. The five hotels and taverns provided $7,018 in community contributions during 2016-17.
In the reporting period, community contributions of $2.817 million were in-kind donations and $9.111 million were monetary contributions. In general terms community contributions approved under the act are to be for the benefit of the general public or the community. The contributions should have the effect of contributing to or supporting the development of the community or raising the standard of living of the community or part of the community.
Reported community contributions are described in the Gaming Machine Regulation 2004 as being for one of the following five purposes: charitable and social welfare; problem gambling; sport and recreation; non-profit activities; and community infrastructure. There are two incentive schemes in the act that encourage gaming machine licensees to increase their community contributions to women’s sport and to assist problem gambling, allowing those who make these contributions to count $4 in their report for every $3 they contribute.
In 2016-17, the contributions included more than $6.9 million for sport and recreation and a further $316,999 specifically for women’s sport. A contribution of around $1.7 million was made for non-profit community activities and more than $1 million to the problem gambling assistance fund. The clubs contributed $978,820 to the category of charitable and social welfare and $909,611 towards community infrastructure.
Today I am pleased to share with the Assembly some of the ways in which these funds have been used to the benefit of the Canberra community. The Canberra Southern Cross Club group announced Karinya House as its inaugural community key partner. Karinya House has provided supported accommodation, transitional housing, outreach services and support groups to vulnerable and at-risk pregnant and parenting Canberra women for the past 20 years. The three-year partnership will provide a total of $150,000 to support the running of Karinya House through an annual monetary contribution of $40,000 alongside an in-kind contribution of $10,000.
The Canberra Southern Cross Club group also continues to support the Vinnies night patrol, the Red Cross house program, Woden Youth Centre and Palliative Care ACT by preparing and donating ready, hot, cooked meals, sandwiches and healthy snacks for these groups to distribute to vulnerable and homeless Canberrans.
The Tradies group has been a major supporter of the Canberra Seniors Centre, providing Canberrans aged 50 and above with the opportunity to promote the benefits of healthy ageing through a range of activities and events. The centre’s newsletter The Clarion helps to keep its members informed of Canberra events and information on consumer protection issues, aged care, health and wellbeing.
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