Page 393 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 2019
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MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how will this package of reforms help clubs be less dependent on poker machine revenue into the future?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Pettersson for the supplementary question. A key feature of our incentives package was to promote opportunities for income diversification through redevelopment. That is why the value of offsets for new land-related work was prioritised over cash in the package.
Mr Coe: Why don’t you give incentives to taxi plate owners? You give compensation to poker machine owners but not to taxi plate owners.
Mr Wall: He’s got a conflict of interest when it comes to a club, hasn’t he?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe and Mr Wall, you’ve been asked to stop interjecting.
MR RAMSAY: Yet again we hear from the Canberra Liberals their absolute lack of interest in reducing the impact of gambling harm and helping clubs to be vibrant and supported as they move—
Mr Coe: If the Labor Party operated taxis they might have got a better deal.
Mr Wall: How much money are you putting into the CFMEU and the Labor Club’s coffers?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, Mr Wall, one more time and you will be warned.
MR RAMSAY: Again: no interest in supporting clubs, no interest in supporting community, no interest in helping people move away from gambling harm. Canberra deserves so much better from the Canberra Liberals.
Access to this support will make it easier for clubs to appropriately redevelop their land to create new revenue opportunities that will reduce their reliance on gaming machine revenue. We are going to be doing more to support clubs, of course. This year the government will be creating a diversification support fund for clubs. We’ll be providing training for staff, executives and board members of clubs to improve the capacity of clubs to develop and operate new businesses. This measure will work hand in hand with the incentives that have already been made.
I am pleased to see that our clubs are engaging so positively with the government to reduce the number of gaming machine authorisations, to strengthen the harm minimisation framework and to provide even better services to the community. We know that Canberra clubs are here for the sake of the community. We will assist them to do that and to build a strong, vibrant club sector and a strong, vibrant community.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call Mrs Kikkert, members, no interjections, please.
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