President’s Speech from the 2017
National Managers Conference
President’s
Perspective
David Hiscox
President
Good Morning members
and welcome to this
General Meeting of
The Club Managers
Association and the
2017 National Managers
Conference. The property was purchased for
$1,100,000 of which $700,000
is funded through borrowings.
Architects have now been appointed
and work will begin on the design
and then the tendering the works
to appropriate builders. A budget of
between $250,000 and $300,000
has been allocated for the fitout.
It is great to see so many members
here and I’m sure we will all enjoy
the coming days of education and
networking with our peers. It is anticipated that we will
occupy the new space sometime
early November. We will keep you
posted on progress and how the
building develops. On the industrial
front it seems that what’s old is new
again with a level of industrial
unrest unseen in our industry for
many years bought about by the
Fair Work Commissions decision on
penalty rates and the review of
the modern awards.
I would like to acknowledge Life
Members Allan Peter, David O’Neil
and Grant Duffy.
Later in the meeting we will hear
from the Minister for Racing, the
Honourable Paul Toole MP for
a short summation of what is
happening in the legislative area of
NSW Liquor and Gaming.
At our AGM in Brisbane, I announced
to the members that we were in
the process of purchasing a
property for the Association’s
administrative office.
A purchase of this type had been the
ambition of all previous Executive
Boards and for various reasons
never eventuated. On the Tuesday
the 20th of June the Association
finalised the acquisition of 23 Forest
Road Hurstville. This property is in
a brand new building on the fringe
of Hurstville, located on the ground
floor with some 250 meters of space
to house our administration.
IQ 6
Federal Secretary Allan Peter
will provide details in his report,
but it has been interesting and
challenging as our association sits
in the middle of the Clubs Australia
and United Voice’s exchanges.
These exchanges have been most
noticeable in Queensland with United
Voice picketing clubs and trying to
coerce clubs into signing agreements
guaranteeing that they will not
remove penalty rates.
Rest assured the Executive has
maintained contact with all the
parties, particularly Clubs Australia
Industrial and has strongly
articulated our concerns in relation
to the employment conditions of
our members in any move to the
Hospitality Award, these concerns
have been detailed in recent
communications to members.
CMMA continues to be an intergral
party to the negotiations between
CAI and United Voice.
This year’s Country Managers
Conference was held in Cessnock,
and what an outstanding event
with over 140 mangers and trade
representatives attending this year.
Planning for next year’s conference
is already underway with a decision
on the location imminent. Next
year’s Country Manager Conference
will also be the location of the
Associations Annual General
Meeting in May, another first for
the Association. Thanks to the
committee of country managers
who put in a lot of time and effort
organising the event and working
collaboratively with head office.
In Victoria clubs have now waited
for almost 2 years for a decision on
gaming machine ownership and a
new tax regime and the introduction
of TITO without resolution.
Federal Councillor Grant Duffy
reports that Darebin City Council
in Melbourne’s North East has
moved to blacklist sporting clubs
that are supported by Poker
Machine Revenue.
One of the club’s that could be
adversely affected, Northcote
Football Clubs, Manager Dennis
McNiece is reportedly shattered
stating “this decision will impact on
jobs, impact on sport and impact on
community overall”.