ClubCOLLECTIVE December 2022
The level of anti-club sentiment expressed by the Sydney Morning Herald continues relentlessly, the rationale for which remains mysterious. They talk about proceeds of crime but never talk about stopping the crime or questioning why the people they identify as criminals continue their daily lives freely.
They promote the virtues of a mandatory gambling card but overlook the arguments that were promoted against an Australia Card 36 years ago. It ultimately led to a double dissolution of the Federal Parliament. If a card can be introduced that controls how ordinary people spend their money, what else could that card be used for? The questions that flow from the statements, misstatements, and omissions by SMH defy explanation.
We as members of the club community who believe in the ethics and responsible conduct in our industry, need to be vocal about our concerns, otherwise sentiment will continue to grow against us. The power of the media is well documented in history. Small numbers of influential people can persuade the masses. We, the majority, need to be more concerned and vocal in our views.
Technology demands for online identification continue to put pressure on the Federal Government to provide a national identity system, apart from a mandatory gambling card. The Financial Systems Inquiry found that there would be significant savings from such a system. However, the Inquiry cited the Australia Card history as continuing to provide a barrier to this development:
"Many Australians may object to this option on the basis of privacy concerns. It could be viewed as a digital version of the unpopular Australia Card initiative, which was rejected in 1987, or the Access Card, which was terminated in 2007."
Is a mandatory gambling card any different?
Contact Information
Name: Greg Russell
Title: Partner
Mobile: 02 9957 6700
Email: greg.russell@russellcorporate.com.au
Website: https://www.russellcorporate.com.au
