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Community Clubs Fight For Survival Community clubs from across the Latrobe Valley will today voice their concerns about Labor’s proposal to restructure the gaming industry. By Russell Northe - 27th April 2009 - Back to News Local Nationals MPs Russell Northe and Peter Hall will meet with representatives of community-based clubs and pubs including bowls clubs and racing clubs this afternoon to discuss the flawed Gambling Regulation Amendment (Licensing) Bill.
"The Bill seeks to give the Brumby Government the power to sell gaming machine entitlements to the highest bidder when current licenses sunset in 2012," Eastern Victoria MP Peter Hall said today.
"Community clubs return profits from poker machines to local sporting clubs, community groups and charitable organisations but none of this will be taken into consideration when the State Labor Government auctions off the licences to those with the deepest pockets."
Morwell MLA Russell Northe said the Coalition was calling for the Bill to be redrafted to ensure smaller clubs are not unfairly disadvantaged.
"The government has already been forced to back down and amend its Bill to stop non-clubs bidding for pokies after the Coalition exposed its plan to allow the corporate sector to bid for gaming machine entitlements," Mr Northe said.
"A number of Latrobe based clubs are concerned they will not be able to compete with cashed-up bidders and will today have opportunity to air their grievances and propose a way forward."
The RSL recently revealed it is considering closing up to 22 clubs to bankroll the purchase of licences and many smaller clubs faced similar uncertainty beyond their current 2012 arrangements.
Labor’s Bill also failed to address problem gambling and Mr Hall said the Coalition would be seeking further amendments when Parliament returns in May.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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