Chapter:
8 - Community Services
Mover:
Garrett Purtill
Seconder:
Sinead Winn
 
 
Source:
My Private Notes


Preamble
The not-for-profit community club model established for Canberrans in the early part of this  century, is at risk. In order to continue to maintain and grow, the community club sector needs  significant change.  

If long term sustainability cannot be achieved, Clubs will close which will impact the broader  ACT community. Financial impacts include no direct funding to community and sporting  groups; no continued upkeep and preservation of community and sporting facilities. There will  be significant loss of employment directly in the Club sector and indirectly across their local  suppliers . There will be a negative impact on social inclusion, isolation and engagement which  is core to what Clubs offer and which is vitally important to the ACT community wellbeing and  health.

The ACT Labor and Clubs recognise that electronic gaming machines (EGMs) can, and in  some cases do cause harm. Over a sustained period, Clubs have implemented both  government mandated and voluntary harm minimisation initiatives. These initiatives have had  mixed results, with few having been evaluated for their effectiveness in minimising harms.

The ACT Labor recognises the important role and contribution clubs make to the  Canberra community. ACT Labor in Government is committed to working with the industry and  relevant stakeholders to develop a roadmap for the long term sustainability of the Canberra  Community Club sector through establishing an independent Inquiry.

The Inquiry will quantify the impact of the proposed industry plan on ACT Government revenues  and include a community cost/benefit analysis of any recommended changes. The inquiry will  report on the economic, social/wellbeing and community contributions Clubs make to the ACT  and implications for the Canberra community were there to be widespread Club closures.  

In doing its work, the Inquiry will keep in mind the different regulatory and taxation arrangements  which apply in NSW, and in particular Queanbeyan, which can have a material impact on the  competitiveness of ACT Clubs.

The Inquiry will be conducted by two or three independent persons. At least one will be Canberra  based person with extensive experience with industry development plans, particularly at the  Federal level, with economic analysis skills. At least one person will be experienced with the not  for profit community Club model, hospitality industry, Community sport and a highly regarded  expert in overseeing industry development plans. The appointees should have the support of all  key stakeholders.

The Inquiry will be provided access to:
•    Representatives from relevant ACT Government Directorates
•    Representatives from the Licensed Community Clubs Industry including representatives of from small and medium clubs and clubs spanning the sports, cultural and social  sectors
•    Representatives from the community sector
•    Representatives from the community sports sector
•    Representatives from the business sector  

The Inquiry would:
•    be supported by a Secretariat in the Justice and Community Services Directorate. seek public submissions and undertake appropriate consultation
•    issue a draft report for public comment by end December 2025
•    submit its final report to the Government by end July 2026.
General Resolution

Independent Review of ACT Club Industry and a Plan for the Future

That, in government, ACT Labor will establish an Independent Inquiry for developing a Club Industry Development Plan (CIDP) which:

•    recognises the important role and contribution clubs make to the Canberra community;

•    works with the industry and relevant stakeholders to develop a roadmap for the long term sustainability of the Canberra  Community Club sector ;and,

•    for which the Terms of Reference be the following:
'That the Independent Inquiry examine and make recommendations in relation to:
•    Potential changes to taxes, charges and regulations which are inhibiting the sector's ability  to diversify businesses and establish new revenue streams. This will include a particular  focus on processes and charges associated with developing or redeveloping land owned by  Clubs.
•    Skills requirements and training, including specific training support programs for employees who may need to exit the industry as industry rationalisation occurs.

•    Practical options, timelines and assistance measures for helping the sector reduce  significantly its reliance on EGM revenues for ongoing sustainability.

•    Adoption of evidence based, evaluated harm minimisation initiatives that are scale appropriate in terms of technology options, financial implications and implementation timeframes.

•    The community contribution scheme and how its impact can be maximised without  undermining the constitutional objectives of individual Clubs.

•    Mechanisms for establishing an ongoing transitional funding model to support industry and  related community activities over a 20-year period and examine models which could be  deployed to ensure the ACT retain a diversity of Clubs in Canberra i.e. a healthy mix of  sporting, social and culturally based clubs, and larger and smaller clubs.

•    Determining the real financial contribution the ACT Licensed Community Club Sector  contributes to the ACT economy, Government, the Community and sporting sectors,  especially with respect to facilities management and maintenance and how this contribution  can be maintained including options for direct government subsidies where necessary.

•    The cross border economic relationship between the ACT and NSW jurisdictions in terms of  the revenue generated by the Clubs Sector and any negative impacts to the ACT economy to  the benefit of the ACT adjacent communities in NSW should regulations inhibit the viability  of Clubs in the ACT.

•    The value of harmonisation between NSW and ACT regulation on harm minimisation  objectives and the role positive or otherwise the ACT Club industry plays in minimising  gambling harm. The inquiry will also examine the merit or otherwise of any proposed move  to mandated cashless gaming and removal of ATM/EFTPOS from Clubs.

•    Examining the extent to which the ACT Government needs to focus on online and other  forms of gambling.

•    When considering gambling harm reduction initiatives review the extent to which ACT  Government EGM gambling harm initiatives encourage gambling activity to move to  Queanbeyan  

•    When considering gambling harm reduction initiatives review the extent to which ACT  Government EGM gambling harm initiatives encourage a move to other gambling types  rather than reduce the incidence of gambling harm, and

•    Submit its Final Report to the ACT Government by end of July 2026
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