Page 1232 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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taking decisive action, in partnership with the many different clubs of all sizes, purposes and histories here in the ACT, to help build a clubs sector that is diverse, sustainable and community focused and, at the same time, less reliant on gaming revenue.
Last week, as I stated in this place yesterday, I announced the engagement of Mr Neville Stevens AO to report on options to help clubs reduce their reliance on gaming machine revenue. This independent review follows a year of delivering both stronger gambling harm prevention laws and supporting clubs to move away from gaming machine revenue. During this process, clubs expressed a diversity of views about the best pathways to reduce the number of gaming machines. One thing that became clear was that a one-size-fits-all approach to diversification will not work. We have a diverse clubs sector that offers a wide range of community services, including sport, entertainment and multicultural events. The framework that we will use to make decisions about support for clubs to move away from gaming needs to take account of that diversity.
But let me be clear: the government has set a definite timetable for achieving the reduction in gaming machine authorisations. The club industry diversification support analysis will be completed and a report provided to me by 31 May 2018 and, following that, the government will begin a phased process of reducing machines by 1 April 2019. The full commitment to achieving 4,000 authorisations will be reached by no later than 1 May 2020.
In closing, I return to the imminent ban on greyhound racing in the ACT. The government acknowledges that some people’s lives will be affected by this, and the transition task force is there to assist them. I strongly urge anyone who is worried about any impact on their livelihood to contact the task force for assistance. They have until the end of June this year to apply. Funding is also available to animal welfare organisations assisting in the rehoming of racing greyhounds. The ACT government is committed to the ongoing improvement of animal welfare in the ACT and we are committed to reducing the harm caused to people in our community through problem gambling. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.20): I welcome the remarks by the Attorney-General, who has, I think, outlined some of the key factual matters that arise in this discussion. Whilst Mr Parton is far more colourful, perhaps, it is worth actually reflecting on the facts of the matter, and I think the attorney has just done a good job of outlining that.
I am pleased to speak today about the importance of ethical investment and to highlight the leading role the Greens have played in holding the government to the highest standards that we can achieve on this issue. I do that because Mr Parton has obviously researched this quite a bit. I am pleased that he has focused on some of the matters that the Greens have pursued over the years. I think there are some good policy ideas and I would be very happy to see the Liberal Party take some of them on board if they are as fascinated by them as today’s motion suggests.
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