Community Local residents and businesses Local community groups and services IMPLEMENTATION PLAN – Updated February 2016 Advocacy Advocacy Activity Description Council Action Timeframe Join the Alliance for Gambling Reform The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national collaboration of organisations with a shared concern about the harmful impacts of gambling in Australia. The Alliance seeks to campaign for reforms to the gambling industry to reduce harm from gambling. Initially, the Alliance will focus on gaming machine related harm through supporting a $1.00 per spin bet limit in Victoria and seeking licensing changes to address the increasing practice of gaming operators shifting existing machines into more vulnerable communities. The mission of the Alliance aligns closely with and builds upon, the local government led Enough Pokies campaign which Council was a Council joined the Alliance in August 2015 and has promoted it through the Council website and on social media. Council also held a screening of the Alliance for Gambling Reform film Pokie Nation at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville on 30 November 2015. Following the film screening, a panel discussion was held which was hosted by the CEO Stephen Wall. The panel discussion featured two of the key members of the board of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Dr Charles Livingstone and Jacob Varghese. Completed Ching
field. We also recognise gathering such evidence will be a substantial piece of work that is likely both costly to Council and time consuming. Council is better placed to direct its efforts and advocacy on the State Government to bring about the type of policy change sought by Council. State Department of Justice and Regulation, Gaming Machine Arrangements Review The Gaming Machine Arrangements Review is aimed at informing the State Government about the options for the future regulation and management of EGM entitlements before they expire in 2022. A consultation paper, associated with the review, was released in late December. This paper outlines a number of key issues associated with gaming machine arrangements including community benefits statements for venue operators, the allocation and transfer of EGM entitlements and options to improve the regulatory framework for EGMs Submissions in response to the consultation paper must be made to the Department of Justice and Regulation, by February 22 2016. A submission has been prepared and submitted. The submission outlines a number of issues for consideration reflect Council’s ongoing commitment to minimising the harm caused from gambling. This includes: EGM caps and population growth EGM caps in disadvantaged areas such as Braybrook The level of gambling taxation collected in Victoria The claiming of employment expenses in Community Benefit Statements by pubs and The term limits for EGM entitlements The transfer of EGM entitlements between venue operators Changes to the Gambling Regulation Act to reduce the February 2016
Community Awareness and Support Programs Community Awareness and Support Programs Description Council Action Timeframe Dare To Connect North West Dare To Connect North West is a free 10 week program that aims to offer regular gamblers recreational and educational alternatives to at risk gambling. The program consists of entertaining weekly activities supported by trained volunteers. The program is funded through a Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Preventing Harm Grant. Maribyrnong City Council is a partner in the Dare to Connect North West program along with four other northwest region Councils; Moreland, Moonee Valley, Brimbank and Hume City Council. Other project partners include North West Area Mental Health Service, Lentara Uniting Care Financial Counselling, Gamblers Help Western and City and Mental Health Practitioners Network (MHPN). To date, Dare To Connect has had three successful programs, with residents from Footscray participating in the program. Council promoted the next Dare To Connect program in September to local residents through Council website, and community information points including libraries and community centres and also to local community groups. Dare to Connect completed the October training session with 14 participants from across the north west region of Melbourne. Dare To Connect is planning further training sessions in 2016. However, it will no longer be funded through a Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Preventing Harm Grant. The program will now be funded by a private benefactor. Council will scope options to continue to support the program. Council will work with Dare To Connect to determine how it can support the program in the next phase. October 2015. Ongoing