Gambling policy adopted

By Paul Dunlop
A NEW gaming policy has been adopted by Cardinia Shire Council amid claims it stifled a debate that ‘needed to be had’.
The Responsible Gaming Policy is designed to provide a transparent and consistent framework to guide responses to applications for gaming machines in the region.
The council has refused to support any proposal for either extra machines or new gaming venues unless it is satisfied there are socioeconomic benefits and community support.
All of the gaming machines in Cardinia Shire are located in Pakenham.
The policy was approved at the council’s 15 August meeting.
But the council’s handling of the issue came under fire from Cr Bill Ronald who accused his colleagues of rubber stamping the proposal without adequate debate.
It was during discussion on the gaming policy that Cr Ronald was suspended from the meeting by mayor Garry Runge.
The Pakenham Ward councillor had lashed out at the mayor and colleagues when his questions about the cost of a recent council survey that asked residents for their views on a range of issues, including gambling, were deemed irrelevant.
Cr Ronald left the council chambers after his suspension declaring that local government was dead.
“This debate needs to be had,” he said.
Cr Ronald had sought to have the council’s decision on the gaming policy deferred to a further meeting but his colleagues were happy for it to be approved immediately.
None of Cr Ronald’s colleagues supported his motion to defer the debate, nor did they back his attempts to have the issue further discussed at the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Cr Ronald questioned the haste for approving the policy before the council had received the responses from the survey.
He also questioned the need for a policy at all, saying it was up to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation to decide applications for machines.
Cr Runge said it was important for the council to have a framework on which to base its position in relation to gaming in the shire.
With the rapid growth in Pakenham and district, demand from operators for increased gaming machines was also likely, Cr Runge said.
An officer’s report to the meeting said the policy would provide guidance for the council in its response to applications.
The Responsible Gaming Policy would demonstrate a balanced approach to gaming in Cardinia rather than an antigaming position, councillors were told.
The objectives of the policy are to:
•Provide direction to council decision making processes.
•Encourage gaming venues to operate in a responsible manner and be responsive to community needs.
•Provide mechanisms to improve the benefits and mitigate the negative impacts of gaming.
•Promote an even distribution of the financial gains from electronic gaming in the Cardinia shire.
The council received seven submissions when the policy draft went on public display.