An advisory committee that’s never met is to be abolished in a move its supporters say is a “total broken promise and breach of faith”.
The Gambling Advisory Committee (GAC) was proposed by Independent MP John Darley and the SA Council for Social Services during negotiations with the state government to ensure passage of the Gambling Reform Act in July last year.
It was set in concrete when parliament passed the Darley amendment.
More than a year passed and still no-one had been appointed to the committee, it had never met and queries from Darley about the delay went unanswered.
After inquiries today by InDaily, the State Government has offered to meet with Darley to explain its position – but he’s wary.
“The first thing we’ve heard about it was when it appeared on the list of boards and committees to be abolished,” Darley told InDaily this week.
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The list, released by Premier Jay Weatherill on 22 September this year, proposed the abolition of 105 State Government boards and committees, with a further 194 to be reformed, merged or reclassified.
It followed a “whole-of-government audit” the Premier said was aimed at improving the community’s access to government-decision makers and reducing red tape.
Darley says it does the opposite – cutting off community concerns on poker machines and gambling addictions.
When he first proposed the idea, it was the lack of access to government that drove him.
“Sacoss has been unable to put submissions or comment on several reform initiatives over the last two years , and the few gambling policy advocates in our sector do it at the margins of already full workloads,” Darley told parliament last year.
“This is in stark contrast to the industry which has almost unlimited resources to dedicate to protecting its interests.
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“Until there is funding for such advocacy, the input into government on any reform processes will lack key perspectives and the public policy outcomes will inevitably be poorer.”
Communities and Social Inclusion Minister Zoe Bettison has offered to meet with Darley, insisting however that the committee is no longer viable.
“The Premier’s interim report has identified the Gambling Advisory Committee as non-essential and that other mechanisms for community consultation and engagement exist,” Bettison told InDaily.
“As indicated by the Premier, the government is looking at new and innovative ways to receive advice, including directly from the community and businesses, while reducing red tape and duplication.
“In terms of gambling, there are a number of other mechanisms that include many more stakeholders providing advice and feedback, rather than the four envisaged for the GAC.
“The Office for Problem Gambling regularly liaises with the gaming industry and gambling help service providers about the administration of the Gamblers’ Rehabilitation Fund and reports quarterly to the Independent Gambling Authority on the GRF funded programs.
“In addition, the OPG is currently developing a Partnerships Groups Communication and Engagement Strategy which will outline the overall approach to engagement and communication with stakeholders.
“There are also specific working groups that enable industry and the OPG to work together. Most recently, this has been the Gambling Reform Reference Group, which comprises members from the Australian Hotels Association, Clubs SA and the Independent Gambling Authority.
“The OPG also holds Shared Space Forums where everyone in the gambling sector is invited to attend.
“I am willing to sit down with Mr Darley and go through these reforms and discuss the way forward on this important issue.”
