Page 2935 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 15 August 2018
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must not forget the fundamental reason why the scheme exists when we engage in this debate.
With these factors in mind, the Greens believe that the current review provides an opportunity to explore some key questions. What should the definition of “community benefit” be and what sorts of activities should be counted under the scheme? How can the reporting and distribution arrangements be adjusted to ensure that the scheme is appropriately transparent and maximise community benefit? How much of the current scheme should be about directly responding to the gambling harm that results from gaming machines, and how much should fund broader community activities in line with the community focus of clubs?
I do not have all the answers to these questions, and I do not have a predetermined outcome of the review in mind. But what I am not prepared to do is rule anything in or out, as Mr Parton’s motion asks us to do today. The government is undertaking an important process, which is taking the voices of clubs and the community into account. That process should be allowed to take its course, and that is why we will be supporting the amendment put forward by Minister Ramsay.
We are strong supporters of our community clubs, but we have an equally strong commitment to harm minimisation and reducing gambling harm. We cannot simply sit back and allow a business model that relies so much on and has become so dependent on gaming machine revenue to continue unquestioned. We recognise that ACT clubs provide significant value for our community, but we do not accept that the good work clubs do means that they have a right to profit from gambling harm or that they are excused from a responsibility to minimise harm from their gambling products. We believe that the social licence for clubs to be reliant on poker machine revenue has expired, and we support the government working with clubs to help them diversify their revenue streams.
We accept that the transition away from a reliance on poker machine revenue will be challenging, particularly for some of the clubs, which is why the reduction in the number of machines will be staged over several years and why the government is working with clubs to help identify alternative income streams.
At the last election the Greens put forward a transition plan for clubs, and we remain committed to those measures. These included tax rebates for clubs with improved harm minimisation measures, water subsidies for sporting ovals and greens, reduced liquor licensing fees for low-risk venues, and business and financial support for diversification proposals.
The review of the community contributions scheme is an important part of the government’s commitment to harm minimisation. Both through this process and the broader work that is happening in this space, our commitment remains to continue doing all we can to better support addicted gamblers and their families. At the same time we will also continue to support our clubs to survive and flourish, especially those committed to reducing their reliance on revenue from poker machines and problem gambling.
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