Page 2646 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 25 September 2007
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We have seen how Canberra’s licensed clubs are responsible for providing a great deal of important social infrastructure within our community; for example, meeting venues, sporting and other recreational equipment and facilities, parking and children’s playgrounds. The Chief Minister’s observation that Canberra is not a pub town is perfectly true and is significant as clubs have become an integral part of the way in which we socialise and interact with each other.
The benefits that the club industry contributes to the ACT community and economy cannot be underestimated. The direct employment of over 2,000 staff, not to mention the staff employed by other businesses on which the industry depends, is significant in anyone’s language. Importantly, that is true not only as a source of financial benefit but also as a place for workplace training and gaining important employment and life skills.
Clubs are a safe place for people to meet and socialise. The standard of facilities at most venues is high and allows people to gather and talk, have a meal, have a quiet drink, celebrate an important event or meet other people. Clubs offer a wide range of opportunities to mix with others such as with bridge, darts, film groups, chess, trips away to see plays, or other activities. Without clubs, there would be a lot more lonely people in our community that may have trouble finding like-minded social groups or people that they can share experiences with. This process of providing a safe social environment is really important in today’s fast-paced society.
Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the community contributions made by club licensees are significant. As we have heard, community contributions come in many different forms. They include charitable and social welfare, such as contributions to the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul and the Smith Family. For example, the Tuggeranong Valley Rugby Union Club contributed to the Red Cross Soup Kitchen more than $25,000 in 2006-07. To Lifeline,—the very group that you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, have quoted today—for problem gambling support, the Tuggeranong Valley Rugby Union Club provided nearly $40,000, and to Camp Quality a total of over $11,000 was provided. These contributions are not insignificant and are crucial to the ongoing support of these organisations.
Clubs provide contributions to non-profit activities, such as to schools or other educational institutions or programs. Also benefiting from such contributions are multicultural activities and special celebrations such as for Anzac Day, Australia Day and Canberra Day. For example, the Tuggeranong Valley Rugby Union Club provided $13,000 for the transport of people around the community, such as going to special events. This assists people to mix socially in our community and to escape the boredom or loneliness that may otherwise be encountered.
Clubs also contribute to community infrastructure that may include development and maintenance of ovals, car parks, art galleries, playgrounds, parklands or gymnasiums. However, most significantly, clubs make a large contribution to sport and recreation, as we have heard. As we heard from the Chief Minister earlier, some $9.3 million was contributed in 2006-07. These contributions provide critical support for all levels of sport and recreation, including for our younger members of the community. We all appreciate how important it is to prevent childhood obesity, and the valuable contribution that clubs make in this regard cannot be underestimated.
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