Page 1897 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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future of our clubs industry and also the impact of gambling harm. We know that that has not been the case with the Canberra Liberals.
The Canberra clubs are a very important part of our community. The government wants to see a strong and vibrant club industry in Canberra now and into the future. To support that happening, things must change. The community awareness about gambling harm has increased and we must take measures to ensure that the clubs reduce their reliance on gaming revenue as a funding source.
I want to place on record my thanks for the very productive engagement of the club industry throughout the club industry diversification support analysis, in meeting with Mr Stevens, and in providing the information that has led to his findings and his recommendations. That analysis in his report has enabled us to reduce the number of gaming machine authorisations in the ACT from 4,946 to 4,003. I want to place on record my thanks to the industry’s response to the voluntary surrender process, which has allowed us to reach that outcome.
This bill implements a key recommendation of the club analysis, which is to create a diversification and sustainability support fund. The fund is about industry working together to forge its future. In the first three years of the fund’s operation, starting in 2020, the government will also be supporting the industry by matching industry contributions dollar for dollar.
The advisory board will oversee the fund, consider the applications received, and make recommendations to me about the payments to be made from the fund. The board will consist of up to four members with qualifications or experience in the areas that are appropriate to assist the board in carrying out its functions. All clubs will be eligible to apply for financial support from the fund. As recommended by Mr Stevens, guidelines for the fund will give priority during the first three years to small and medium clubs, or to clubs’ groups, and to those that have voluntarily surrendered authorisations in accordance with their surrender obligations.
Madam Speaker, I turn very briefly to other provisions in the bill relating to the community contributions reform. The clubs are required to give eight per cent of their net gaming machine revenue as community contributions. Under new laws passed last year, from 1 July this year large clubs will need to provide at least six per cent of their net gaming machine revenue as cash rather than as in-kind donations.
These are important changes but we also want to ensure that the scheme supports and encourages long-term arrangements that support community programs. This bill amends the new requirement for large clubs so that part of the amount can be an in-kind contribution where it is made under a written arrangement or agreement with a term set out by regulation.
The government has distributed a draft of that regulation to industry. It proposes that the term of arrangement or agreement is five years or more and that the maximum reduction in the monetary contribution is two per cent. I want to again thank all of those who have engaged so positively with the government and who have contributed
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