“When Dr Johnson defined patriotism as the last refuge of a scoundrel, he was unconscious of the then undeveloped possibilities of the word ‘reform'” — US Senator Roscoe Conkling.
As you might have guessed by my use of the above quote experience has made me suspect of the word “reform”.
Today Andrew Barr has announced reforms to the gaming industry.
The heart of it is supporting the Greens’ “mandatory contribution by the operators of gaming machines to a central problem gambling assistance fund”.
Also proposed are:
- — A reduction of 143 in the gaming machine ‘cap’, to be implemented by eliminating the gaming machines currently in the gaming machine pool and currently unallocated to clubs;
— Allowing multi-venue club groups to transfer gaming machines internally subject to the social impact and needs assessment currently outlined in the Gaming Machine Act 2004;
— An increase in the required percentage of community contributions from 7 per cent to 8 per cent of net gaming machine revenue. Gambling assistance levy payments would be included as community contribution;
— Consideration of requiring other operators, such as Casino Canberra and ACTTAB Ltd, to contribute to the gambling assistance fund in the future.
The second point might well be the key to this.