“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. ”
Apparently not just clubs with
Poker Machines are affected, but
clubs supported by clubs with poker
machines are also being roped in.
Northcote’s ongoing tenure at their
home, council oval is under threat.
Darebin Councillor Susan Rennie
is reported to have said “You can’t
be in the sport and wellbeing
business and also be in the pokies,
misery and addiction business.”
Maybe the time has come to remove
local government from being
involved in decisions affecting
bona fide license holder.
From the 1st of April Victorian clubs
will receive some relief in relation to
Gaming regulations; no longer will
a club have to seek permission form
the Commission of Gaming Liquor
Regulation to move the position on
the floor of a machine, this previous
approval was to move a machine
currently owned and operated within
the confines of an existing operation.
From the 1st August Victorian
clubs will also see the introduction
of more restrictive smoking
regulation, these bans in food areas
are similar as those introduced
previously in NSW.
Trading in Qld has been relatively
soft in the first half of the year, in
particular the regional clubs are
doing it tough as a result of the
mining downturn.
Representatives from CMAA, RSLs,
Golf, Surf Lifesaving, Bowls and
Leagues Clubs has been formed
with the intention of commencing
conversations with the State
Government in relation to the
club industry such as a relaxation
of the indexation of gaming tax,
direction of all wagering in to the
future, club access to multi terminal
gaming, extended trading hours
and competition equality with
ending casinos in South East Qld it
is interesting that a group such as
this is required as you would think
that representations to government
should be made on behalf of clubs by
Clubs Queensland.
The new licensing regulations came
into effect on July 1st, requiring
venues in safe night precincts to
operate an ID scanner at their
licensed premises. Fortunately
there are only a couple of clubs in
Qld who are affected.
The now imminent merger of
Tabcorp and Tatts will mean
more disruptions for clubs in Qld.
Tabcorp has sold its monitoring
business Odyssey to a Tasmanian
interest, pending the merger. Qld
will continue to have 2 monitoring
companies, maxgaming and Odyssey.
On the Tatts front, the roll out of
upgraded ATB wagering terminals
has finally begun, and the long
awaited self-service terminals are
also being installed.
In closing thank you to all for all
attending the Conference and
supporting your Association, as
always on behalf of the Executive I
would like to pass on our thanks to
Ralph and to all of the great staff
who support the Association and you
our members.
Finally it is also reported that the
Queensland Zones have supported
all their members in what have
been traumatic times, the loss of
Johnathon Thurston and Darius Boyd
and the 7 previous changes for the
deciding State of Origin has sent
ripples through the club industry.
As an objective and unbiased
observer it is great to see that the
Queenslanders have reverted to a
tried and tested strategy to address
this and have turned to their great
friend Victoria to cover these losses,
a true State of Origin.
IQ 7