Page 1200 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
clubs they have set up and love, but there is a lot of doubt out there as to the government’s appreciation of how tough the clubs are doing it and the government’s lack of appreciation on the issue of certainty.
My motion is very simple. First and foremost, it notes the significant contribution by the clubs sector to the ACT community and the economy. It is significant. It would be interesting to find out from ACTEW exactly how much electricity, water and services they provide to the clubs sector. It would be enormous. It would be interesting to find out from the local butchering community how many steaks and snags and lamb cutlets are purchased by the clubs in the course of the year. It would be a mound of meat. How much do local bakers reap from these clubs? It is not just about the clubs sector itself; it is the small businesses that support the clubs sector. The impact on our economy is enormous, particularly when you consider that we do not have the pub infrastructure other jurisdictions have, simply because of the nature of the ACT and the way the population exploded in the late 60s and early 70s. The clubs were put there to provide that amenity.
We should all be saying thank you to the clubs for the facilities they provide. Just about every club at one stage either had a bowling green or a squash court. Many of the clubs now have built, for instance, basketball stadiums or football ovals. Through their contributions to communities, whether it be through supporting affiliate sports clubs or charity days where they give out enormous amounts of money to various people—a literal A to Z of community groups in the ACT—the clubs contribute.
There is also the impact that they have on the construction industry. The clubs are constantly refurbishing. One club told me it costs them $90,000 a day just to open. That is money that is in our community. Canberrans’ expectations of these clubs are always high. These clubs are constantly refurbishing, they are extending or changing their facilities, and that helps our construction industry. The jobs and knock-on impact that goes into our community is significant.
We also know that, for many people, it is a safe environment, particularly for older Canberrans who like to go to their local club for a cheaper lunch or a cheaper dinner. They can go and listen to a band from a previous era or previous generation or just meet their friends there. They know these places are regulated; they know these places are safe; they know these places have the lifts and the safety rails they need to get on with their lives. For young families, most of the clubs these days have playrooms, which means as an adult couple you can view your children enjoying the playroom and have adult time in an adult environment. Those of us with kids all know that can be an absolute lifesaver.
The things clubs provide to us is well beyond the money; it is well beyond the employment; it is well beyond the revenue, the taxation and the expenditure. Those things are important, but what clubs add to communities is important, and we need to ensure that, where clubs are viable, they continue to provide that. What we should not be doing is putting a noose around the neck of a club that has gone to rescue a smaller club. We have to discuss the issues on how they are allowed to make that significant contribution and have the certainty to do so.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video