The Productivity Commission’s (PC) final report on gambling hits Ministers’ desks on 26 February and councils should be paying close attention because communities throughout Australia will face major problems if this issue is not handled intelligently.
The PC’s draft report focused mainly on gaming machines, which account for 65 per cent of gambling in Australia. Its main recommendations are a precommitment system, where you bind yourself to a limit each time you play them (!), a reduction in gambling limits per spin, locating ATMs away from gambling venues, making it easier for punters to seek legal redress when they lose their shirt (!), and the introduction of school based education programs.
However, the PC missed two critical points: the proliferation of internet gambling and the flow of poker machines profits into private hands.
Regarding the latter, the ACT Government has had a long recognised policy of confining pokies to community clubs – they are banned from Canberra Casino and all hotels.
The logic is that community clubs return the profits to charities and affiliated sporting and cultural clubs.
It works well and really does present itself as the national model.
The complementary step would be to phase out, over say, five years, poker machine licences held by private sector interests.
Senator Nick Xenophon, the anti pokies crusader, might warm to this.
Since councils have a real stake in this issue, please contact us if you’d like to swing the cat.
Road toll
There are increasing calls for the Feds to boost road expenditure to reduce the road toll. Now Northern Territory Opposition Leader Terry Mills says repealing the speed limit on open roads so that no limits apply will be one of the first acts of a Country Liberal Party (CLP) Government.
Stop this nonsense, all of you! The culprits are speed, alcohol and fatigue. How many times do we have to be told?
In this context, mobile speed cameras, increased traffic surveillance and driver education must be in the mix.
When I was a lad, it was drummed into us that the distance between cars had to be two feet per mile per hour.
My kids have no idea of what I’m talking about, and for that matter, I’ve never seen the metric equivalent.
The majority of drivers tailgate, including truckies doing 130 kilometres per hour in 40 tonne rigs. Lunacy!
As I’ve said before in this column, Portugal found the answer with trucks – electronic speed regulators that freeze the vehicle once it exceeds 100 kilometres per hour. No ifs or buts.
Which councils want to collaborate by suggesting a trial?
Cockatoo ideas factory
The Cockatoo Network would like to assist councils to work up your ideas.
Why? Well the truth is that timely, well argued and properly documented ideas are those that win favour with funding agencies.
This is our specialty. We track international, national and local development agendas, develop the necessary documentation and then find the funding avenues.
The first step is a workshop to develop a one pager – it explains the what, why, how, who, where, when and how much of the project.
We then hold two workshops – the first is in your bailiwick and the second is in Canberra, where we invite local experts to help the process. Afterwards participants attend a National Press Club luncheon, spend another hour mulling over your project, then perhaps a meeting with government officials, do a quick tour of a national icon (Old or New Parliament House, National Museum, National Gallery, AIS) and finish with a relaxing meal or a flight home.
Contact us for details!
*Rod Brown is a Canberra-based consultant specialising in industry/regional development, investment attraction, clusters and accessing Federal grants. He also runs the Cockatoo Network. He can be contacted at apd@orac.net.au or phone (02) 6231 7261. Go to our blog at www.investmentinnovation.wordpress.com for 550+ articles on issues relevant to Local Government.
