Page 753 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020
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clubs to retain workers in the club sector. As Mr Parton has indicated, there are other measures which are contained in the COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill which support the place of clubs in the current health emergency. This bill helps position clubs to help in the ongoing role of rebuilding that will come afterwards, and that is why we are debating it today. We have shown an ongoing commitment to supporting the sustainability of clubs and we wish to make sure that we support them in and beyond this time.
This bill provides for the retention of the gaming machine tax rebate by small and medium clubs and clubs groups. The retention of the rebate supports clubs to diversify their income to reduce reliance on gaming machine revenue in order to address gambling harm. The government recognises that workers, particularly those employed on a casual basis, are at high risk during this time. The additional funds received through the rebate will support the ongoing sustainability of small and medium clubs and will help the clubs keep as many Canberrans employed as possible, once club venues are able to reopen in the future, which we are looking forward to.
The bill provides for a phased reduction in the amount of tax rebate received by small and medium clubs at a rate of 50c for every $1 earned over $4 million gross gaming machine revenue per annum. This phased reduction will allow clubs time to pursue their diversification efforts and to re-establish alternative revenue streams. The bill also amends the Gaming Machine Act to provide a number of minor changes to the community contributions scheme and to ensure clubs’ compliance, whilst also retaining the scheme’s overall integrity. The transitional periods that are contained in the bill will be for the club reporting year that starts from 1 July 2019 until the club reporting year that ceases on or before 30 June 2021.
In closing, I would like to thank the clubs for the great work that they do for the community and for the way that they are working to adapt and support people right now, at this most difficult time. I look forward to a time when clubs can once again be a place of physical gathering, where the members of our community can indeed come together and be supported in those very important places around Canberra.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Standing orders—suspension
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Public Health (Emergencies) Amendment Bill 2020 and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill 2020 being called on and debated forthwith.
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