Committees Report Template

Inquiry into elements impacting on the future of the ACT clubs sector

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

october 2015

Report 18

Committee membership

Current Members
Mr Brendan Smyth MLA Chair from 6 June 2013

Member to 6 June 2013

Ms Mary Porter AM MLA Deputy Chair
Ms Nicole Lawder MLA Member from 8 August 2013
Ms Meegan Fitzharris MLA Member from 10 February 2015

Mr Shane Rattenbury MLA Member for the purpose of this investigation pursuant to resolution of 26 March 2015

Former Members
Ms Yvette Berry MLA Member from 5 August 2014 to 10 February 2015
Dr Chris Bourke MLA Member to 5 August 2014
Mr Zed Seselja MLA Chair to 6 June 2013
Mr Alistair Coe MLA Member from 6 June to 8 August 2013

SECRETARIAT

Dr Andréa Cullen AGIA ACIS Secretary until 9 June 2015
Mr Andrew Snedden Acting Secretary from 9 June 2015
Mr Greg Hall Research Officer
Ms Lydia Chung Administration Officer

Contact information

Telephone [phone]

Facsimile 02 6205 0432

Post GPO Box 1020, CANBERRA ACT 2601

Email [e-mail]

Website www.parliament.act.gov.au

Resolution of appointment

The Legislative Assembly for the ACT appointed the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on 27 November 2012.

Specifically the resolution of 27 November 2012 establishing the Standing Committees of the 8^th Assembly, as it relates to the Public Accounts Committee states:

1. 
   The following general purpose standing committees be established and each committee inquire into and report on matters referred to it by the Assembly or matters that are considered by the committee to be of concern to the community:
   

1. 
   a Standing Committee on Public Accounts to:
   
   1. 
      examine:
      
      1. 
         the accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the Australian Capital Territory and its authorities; and
         
      2. 
         all reports of the Auditor-General which have been presented to the Assembly;
         
   2. 
      report to the Assembly any items or matters in those accounts, statements and reports, or any circumstances connected with them, to which the Committee is of the opinion that the attention of the Assembly should be directed;
      
   3. 
      inquire into any question in connection with the public accounts which is referred to it by the Assembly and to report to the Assembly on that question; and
      
   4. 
      examine matters relating to economic and business development, small business, tourism, market and regulatory reform, public sector management, taxation and revenue;¹
      

Terms of reference

On Thursday 26 March 2015, the Legislative Assembly referred part (3) of the following motion to the Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day of September 2015.
“That this Assembly:
(1) notes the ongoing value community clubs provide to the wider Canberra community; and:

(a) the need to secure the long-term financial viability of the community clubs sector to ensure this contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of Canberra continues;

(b) the need for community clubs to diversify their business models away from reliance on gaming revenue;

(c) the need for harm minimisation measures to protect vulnerable problem gamblers; and

(d) the following elements impacting on the future of the ACT clubs sector:

(i) revenue and profitability;

(ii) legislation and regulations;

(iii) taxation and charges;

(iv) land development and sales;

(v) problem gambling;

(vi) diversification and mergers;

(vii) new business models;

(viii) poker machines and gambling technologies; and

(ix) water and resource management;

(2) notes the Government’s continuing work in partnership with ClubsACT on:

(a) the comprehensive suite of red tape reduction measures passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2014 as part of the Gaming Machine Reform Package;

(b) legislation introducing the second tranche of the Gaming Machine Reform Package, including a trading scheme, will be introduced into the Assembly in May;

(c) the establishment of a Community Clubs Taskforce in November 2014 to explore further ways the Government can assist community clubs to diversify their business models; and

(d) the establishment of Access Canberra as a one-stop shop for businesses, including community clubs, to work with the ACT Government; and
(3) resolves that:

(a) the matters in 1(d) and related matters be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for further investigation and consultation with the wider community;

(b) a member of the cross-bench be appointed to the committee for the purpose of this investigation; and

(c) the committee report by the last sitting day of September 2015 with a response from the Government by the last sitting day of November 2015.”—

be agreed to—put and passed.²
On 22 September 2015 the Legislative Assembly resolved:
That the resolution of the Assembly of 26 March 2015 referring Elements Impacting on the Future of the ACT Clubs Sector to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry and report be amended by omitting the words “by the last sitting day in September 2015” and substituting “by the last sitting day in October 2015” and adding a new paragraph (3) (d):

“(3) (d)       if the Assembly is not sitting when the report is completed the Speaker, or, in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, is authorised to give directions for its printing, publication and circulation.”