Insight: Nov 1

Channel Nine management may want to look the other way when SBS airs an episode of Insight that looks at the issue of poker machine reforms next week.

From RSLs to bowling clubs, Catholic clubs to Nippers, many venues in Australia can define themselves as clubs, allowing them to enjoy special not-for-profit status and tax breaks.

Many clubs also rely – to a greater or lesser extent – on poker machine revenue.

The federal government’s proposed poker machine reforms would require gamblers to set their own spending limit in advance, and clubs are worried about the hit to their hip pockets. Many clubs say their very survival is at stake if the reforms go ahead – and that would threaten the valuable services they provide to the community.

But critics are questioning what social benefits clubs actually provide and how much of the money they make is channeled back into communities.

Next week Insight brings together clubs big and small, as well as supporters and critics of gambling reform, to look at what role clubs play in society and how much they rely on gambling revenue.

Guests include:

Andrew Wilkie – the Independent Member for Denison in Tasmania and an advocate for poker machine reform. In September last year, Andrew signed an agreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard for the introduction of a national, mandatory pre-commitment system by 2014. This will require poker machine players to set limits on the amount of money they’re prepared to lose.

Anthony Ball – the Executive Director of Clubs Australia, the national association for clubs. Clubs Australia is leading the ‘Won’t Work, Will Hurt’ campaign and says mandatory pre-commitment won’t help problem gamblers, but will hurt thousands of clubs and the communities they support.

Danny Robinson – the Chief Executive of St George Leagues Club in New South Wales, who says the cost of implementing mandatory pre-commitment technology could force his club to shut its doors. The club has 416 poker machines which it relies on for about 80 per cent of the club’s total revenue.

Wendy Scott, who teaches Irish dance in Mount Isa in Queensland. Her dance school is sponsored by the Mount Isa Irish Club. The club provides a room for Wendy to teach students and also pays for airfares for the dancers to travel to interstate competitions. Wendy says the club is vital to the Mount Isa community.

Sue Pinkerton, who at one stage in her life spent up to six hours a day, five days a week gambling on poker machines, spending about $65,000 on them. Sue gave evidence to the Joint Select Committee on Gambling reform. She believes if mandatory pre-commitment had been around when she was addicted it probably would have helped limit her spending on the pokies.

Betty Con Walker – an economist and former New South Wales Treasury official. She is also the author of Casino Clubs NSW. Betty says the bulk of poker machine profits do not go to community groups and sport sponsorship as most clubs claim.

Tuesday at 7.30pm on SBS ONE.