An Advisory Council for ACT community clubs has been established to help reduce harm from gambling.
Minister for Gaming, Shane Rattenbury, who will be the Chair the ACT Community Clubs Ministerial Advisory Council, said the new Council was comprised of representatives from community clubs, organisations that worked to reduce gambling harm, and union stakeholders.
“The Council will play a key role in advising on implementing gambling harm reduction initiatives while also ensuring that community clubs continue to provide hubs for community connection and are sustainable for the long term,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The Council’s work will focus on important initiatives included in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement such as reducing gaming machine licences to 3,500, introducing $5 bet limits and $100 load-up limits for gaming machines and enhancing the self-exclusion scheme,” he said.
“Government recognises that community clubs play an essential part in the social life of many Canberrans, as a meeting place and sponsor of community events.”
Mr Rattenbury said he wanted to ensure clubs continued to support the community while introducing and strictly enforcing measures to reduce gambling harm.
“Each club has its own unique objectives, membership and asset base, so it will be important to tailor support packages to suit these individual clubs,” the Minister said.
“The Council will meet on a regular basis to ensure strong ongoing dialogue with clubs and other stakeholders to help develop a sustainable pathway for clubs in Canberra.”
He said the first meeting of the Council was held this week (Wednesday 26 May) and it would meet regularly to ensure ongoing dialogue with clubs and other stakeholders.
Members of the Minister’s Advisory Council – apart from the Minister – are community members Yu-Lan Chan; Thomas Stevens; Lyndal Ryan; Wendy Sandeman; Kim Marshall; Athol Chalmers; Jeremy Halcrow; Kate Seselja; Geoff McKay; Mary Collier; and Brian Weir.
