Page 1666 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 July 2020
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(c) implemented a range of measures, including establishing the Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund, which are assisting clubs to diversify their revenue streams and move away from reliance on gaming revenue while still being able to fulfil their role in the community, supporting around 10 000 community, sport and multicultural groups; and
(d) reviewed the Community Contributions scheme to improve transparency of funding by clubs to community support and to maximise this benefit to the community;
(3) notes that:
(a) in the ACT, people can lose more than $1000 an hour playing poker machines;
(b) all Australian jurisdictions, except for the ACT and NSW, have bet limits of $5 per spin for poker machines in clubs and hotels;
(c) all Australian jurisdictions, where poker machines accept banknotes, except for the ACT, have load limits in clubs and hotels, and Queensland has introduced a load up limit of $100;
(d) reports indicate that the COVID-19 shutdown period has been a relief for some people experiencing gambling harm;
(e) in 2014-15, almost 20 percent of ACT adults played the pokies at least once, with losses totalling $37.48 million. Non-problem gamblers accounted for 37 percent of all money lost on poker machines, while 63 percent came from people with some problem gambling behaviours;
(f) the ACT Gambling Survey 2019 (Commissioned by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, undertaken by Australian National University) found that:
(i) 9.6 percent of the ACT adult population (approximately 31 000 adults) experienced gambling harm in the past 12 months; and
(ii) 64.3 percent of respondents agreed that poker machines do more harm than good for the community; and
(g) the 2010 Productivity Commission inquiry report on gambling found the significant social cost of problem gambling—estimated to be at least $4.7 billion a year—means that even policy measures with modest efficacy in reducing harm will often be worthwhile; and
(4) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) continue to work alongside the clubs to help them secure their future over the long term, support their communities and protect their patrons, and to help them to continue to move to other income-generating activities; and
(b) work in close consultation with clubs, experts, the community, and people with lived experience on further evidence-based harm minimisation measures.”.
The amendment adds to Mr Rattenbury’s motion acknowledging the role of clubs in supporting the community and reforms that have been achieved in this term of
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