Seven community clubs have received funding as part of the ACT Government’s Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund, which helps Canberra’s clubs diversify their business models away from gambling-based revenue.
Whilst this Tasmanian state election has been notably free of pokie-lobby money, the previous election in 2018 was awash with campaign donations to fight against then Labor policy to reduce the number of machines in the community.
The current Labor-Greens government in the capital is trying the approach of diversifying the operations and base of clubs that were previously heavily-reliant on poker machine revune.
In the latest grants, a total of $632,811 will be allocated to seven clubs to help fund initiatives like developing an Early Learning Centre, upgrading and reopening a kitchen and installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“Community clubs are so important to Canberra’s social fabric,” Minister for Gaming Shane Rattenbury said. “They support our sporting teams, employ hundreds of people, and offer a place to meet and socialise for thousands of Canberrans.
“However, too many community clubs are highly dependent on pokies revenue, an activity we know causes harm to people, their families and communities. The ACT Government wants to reduce gambling harm, while at the same time secure a sustainable future for clubs.”
Rattenbury said the Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund was established to assist clubs to diversify their income to sources other than gaming machines, contribute to projects that reduce regulatory costs, and provide skills development and training for club staff.
“The seven clubs that will receive payments in this round of grants have shown their dedication to a sustainable long-term future, a future that builds community and prevents harm,” he explained. “This fund is another example of the ACT Government’s commitment to support clubs so they can continue their important contribution to the life of our community.”
The Canberra Southern Cross Club is one of the organisations set to benefit from the fund, receiving over $100,000. Southern Cross Club CEO Ian Mackay said the funding will be used to reduce costs, improve customer experience and help ensure the precinct leads in environmental sustainability.
“This funding will be used to help us put in an electric vehicle charging station, solar panels and solar powered carpark lighting at the Yacht Club,” Mackay said.
Gaming machines were removed from the Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club in 2014 and in 2019, the venue officially became ‘pokie-free’ when the club surrendered the Yacht Club’s authorisation certificate, meaning that gaming machines would not return to the site.
“The Canberra Southern Cross Club has a core strategy of diversifying income streams away from gaming machine revenue and to remain sustainable through providing services that our community needs,” he said. “The two core areas of diversification have been into food and beverage excellence and health and wellness services.”
The ACT Labor Party had been the biggest owner of poker machines in the territory, but the new program is winding that back. The Pathway to 4000 Gaming Machines was adopted in 2018.
A two-step approach has been taken to achieve this reduction; voluntary and compulsory surrender of gaming machine authorisations. Financial and non-financial incentives are available to clubs that voluntarily surrender authorisations.
The approach grew from a package of recommendations in the Diversification Support Analysis presented to the government earlier that year. The recommendations included tax rebate changes, planning concessions, training for club directors, waiving of some fees, the diversification fund, a review of liquor licence fees and more.
Meanwhile in Tasmania, the approaches have been a lot less creative; the only proposals on the table from the two largest parties is effectively ‘business as usual’.
Labor has guaranteed its support for the ‘rights’ of venues to continue operating poker machines as part of a deal with the state’s hospitality association. A leaked MOU outlined Labor’s agreement with the Tasmanian Hotels Association to “share the goal of improving the performance and productivity of the hospitality industry”, including the party’s support of an owner/operator model for clubs and pubs.
The THA were prime movers in a pro-Liberal anti-Labor ‘Love Your Local’ campaign at the 2018 election, and the party sought to neutralised of a repeat.
The Greens in Tasmania have repeatedly demanded that the incumbent Liberals release details of a ‘deal’ negotiated with gaming machine operators on the future tax rate.
Greens’ Leader Cassy O’Connor believes the rate is going to be ten cents in the dollar – the rate Federal Group wanted – which would mean an estimated $500 million reduction in revenue to the state budget by the deal’s end in 2043.
“We’re talking here about a secret deal negotiated between the Liberals and a major donor who helped to buy government for them in 2018,” she said. “This is, prima facie, institutionalised corruption. There sure is something stinky about the Premier’s silence and dissembling over this question.”
Federal MHR for Clark, independent Andrew Wilkie, called last week for a referendum on the issue.
“There’s no rush to bring legislation into the parliament; the current license doesn’t expire for a couple of years,” he said.
“Let’s definitely at least commit to having a referendum before the legislation hits the parliament. So that when the legislation is being crafted, it’s being debated and being voted on, that all members of the parliament will have a very clear understanding of what the community wants.”
The Liberal Party have been silent on poker machine issues throughout this election campaign.