Cautious support for club taskforce

The general managers of Club Umina and Everglades Country Club, Mr Greg Rand and Mr Wayne Dean, have expressed cautious support for the recent formation of a club industry taskforce to help establish guidelines for clubs in NSW.

The NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing, Grant McBride, said: "The nine-member council will include government, industry, and employee representatives and is expected to play a significant role in determining future government policy for the state's 1400 clubs.

"I think there should be a clear set of guidelines for the industry, determining how clubs should operate.

"I raised this issue with Clubs NSW representatives in April this year.

"They have indicated they support this initiative."

Mr Dean said: "We support Clubs NSW's representation.

"We await the outcome of the taskforce."

Mr Rand said that although Clubs NSW and his club were supportive of the initiative and there were issues that needed to be addressed.

Their resolution would not lie in an escalation of the industry's regulation, he said.

"The industry is heavily governed at present.

"It's regulated by the Licensing Court and the Department of Gaming and Racing."

The terms of reference of the taskforce include probity for club directors, management agreements, community contribution programs and compliance principles.

Mr Dean said: "We're presently implementing a code of conduct for directors.

"It will fall in line with industry standards as they become documented.

"Regarding management agreements, club managers in general are not overpaid.

He said that "99 per cent of clubs, including our own, comply with the 1.5 per cent community levy.

"It's 1.5 per cent of net revenue and in addition to government taxes."

Con Orfanos, press release, September 3