In May, the councils called for the definition of a “community benefit” to be changed to ensure that gambling profits were shared with “genuine philanthropic organisations or charities”, rather than the clubs’ own upgrades. Last month, every council in Victoria supported a motion calling on the government to urgently review the scheme to “ensure that the losses from gambling are directly invested back into community and community-led initiatives”. I think when they do that, that’s when the problem will be resolved.”
“The state government needs to acknowledge its own addiction and its reliance on gambling venues as income. The people of Brimbank experience more gambling harm than any other government area. “I don’t even know how to begin – it’s frustrating and disappointing. “This has been a long-running issue,” Rasic told Guardian Australia. The mayor of Hume city council has made similar calls. The mayor of Brimbank council, Ranka Rasic, said her council raised concerns with the government about the scheme and called for reforms in 2021. Overwhelmingly, this money is reinvested into the clubs’ own operating costs and upgrades rather than charities and is listed as a “community benefit”.
