Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW - Clubs NSW

1 Introduction
1.1.4 Review is not revisiting government policy on smoking bans, gaming
machine tax rates or gambling harm minimisation
IPART has also made it clear that this review is not revisiting government policy on
smoking bans in clubs, gaming machine tax rates or gambling harm minimisation.
IPART considers these areas as part of the environment within which clubs and their
competitors must operate. IPART also previously undertook a review of responsible
gambling in 2004 and was concerned not to traverse the same territory again. 5
Box 1.1 IPART’s review process
IPART undertook this review in accordance with section 9(1)b of the Independent Pricing and
Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 and its terms of reference.
As part of this process, IPART:
Published an issues paper on 29 May 2007.
Advertised the review on 29 May 2007 and invited interested parties to provide submissions
detailing their responses to the issues raised in the issues paper and any other matters
relevant to the review. Forty-two responses were received, of which seven were
confidential in their entirety. The non-confidential submissions were published on IPART’s
website. A list of respondents is provided in Appendix C.
Held roundtable discussions with invited stakeholders in Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Armidale
and Dubbo in August, September and October 2007 to discuss the key issues of the review.
Transcripts of the roundtables were published on IPART’s website. A list of participants is
provided in Appendix C.
Undertook sixteen case studies of clubs of different type, size and location (see Appendix C
for a full list of clubs). As part of this process, IPART:
– Collected information on clubs’ existing financial and management reports and
information (for example, annual reports, club constitution, strategic plan, board reports
and board meeting minutes).
– Collected information on clubs’ demographics, management and corporate governance,
social contributions and general operations.
– Interviewed management and/or boards of these clubs face-to-face.
Published a draft report on 29 February 2008 and invited interested parties to provide
submissions detailing their responses to the IPART’s draft findings and recommendations.
17 responses were received of which 2 were confidential in their entirety. A list of
respondents is provided in Appendix C.
Held a further roundtable in Sydney in May 2008 to discuss key issues in response to IPART’s
draft findings and recommendations. A list of participants is provided in Appendix C.
Held face-to-face and telephone interviews with many stakeholders.
IPART then considered all comments and contributions made by stakeholders, and each matter
in the terms of reference. Appendix B lists where in this report each matter is discussed.
5 IPART, Gambling: Promoting a Culture of Responsibility, 2004.
22 IPART Review of the Registered Clubs Industry in NSW