The Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay has announced a new project to analyse the potential for diversifying the ACT’s community club industry to reduce its reliance on income from gambling machines.
Mr Ramsay said the project would be led by the former Secretary of the Commonwealth Departments of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, and Industry, Neville Stevens (pictured).
“Mr Stevens brings a wealth of experience and understanding in progressing significant reform within a regulated industry,” Mr Ramsay said.
“He will be consulting with clubs, club peak bodies and club workers (through their unions), to look at ways to assist the industry to diversify club revenue streams.”
He said Mr Stevens’ analysis would help achieve the Government’s plan to reduce the number of gaming machines in the Territory and to support clubs to transition from a dependence on income from these machines.
“The Government has a strong harm-minimisation agenda, which includes a commitment to reduce the maximum number of gaming machines that can be operated in the Territory to 4,000 by 2020,” Mr Ramsay said.
“We recognise that a diverse, sustainable clubs sector offers benefits for this community and we want to preserve and strengthen those benefits as part of this commitment.”
A report on the Club Industry Diversification Support Analysis will be provided to the Attorney-General by 31 May.
