According to the statement, “the council is comprised of representatives from community clubs, organizations working to reduce gambling harm, and union stakeholders.

The Chair of the ACT Community Clubs Ministerial Advisory Council will be Shane Rattenbury, Minister for Gaming. He will work on implementing gambling harm reduction initiatives. He will also make sure community clubs remain sustainable for the long term and “provide hubs for community connection”.

The council is made up of specialists with diverse experience, who will focus on initiatives that were introduced in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement. Those initiatives include reducing gaming machine licences to 3500, introducing AU$5 (US$3.89) bet limits and $100 load-up limits for gaming machines and enhancing the self-exclusion scheme.

“The ACT Government recognises that community clubs play an essential part in the social life of many Canberrans, as a meeting place and sponsor of community events,” said Rattenbury. “We want to ensure clubs continue to support the community while introducing and strictly enforcing measures to further reduce harm from gaming.”

He noted that each club has its own membership base and unique goals, and support will need to be tailored to suit those individual needs.

The first meeting of the council will take place on 26 May. The President of ClubsACT, Secretary of the United Workers Union and CEO of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission are among the members of the council.