Stage 2 engagement has closed
Thank you to everyone who participated. For more information on this policy view our website
Over the last four years our community has worked hard to reduce harm by implementing our Electronic Gaming Policy and Action Plan. We are proud of what has been achieved and because such important progress has been made, we have reviewed and updated both documents for the next four years.
Council adopted the Electronic Gaming Machine Policy from 2023 to 2027 on 27 November 2023.
What has happened so far?
We conducted two stages of consultation, on the Darebin Electronic Gaming Machine Policy 2023-2027 and Darebin Electronic Gaming Machine Action Plan 2023-2027.
In 2022, we heard from over 220 people through surveys and discussion with groups across the community.
In 2023 key messaging was implemented across Council inviting community feedback on the draft Policy and Action Plan. A total of 47 community members provided feedback on the draft Policy and draft Action Plan through the following engagement methods:
A survey was conducted from 03 April to 23 April 2023, via Darebin Your Say Page. A total of 112 community members viewed the Your Say Darebin with 7 people providing feedback on the draft Policy.
Ten seniors’ clubs participated in the face-to-face Focus Group discussions.
Two seniors’ clubs provided their feedback through email.
Thank you to everyone who participated, this helped make final refinements to the Policy and Action Plan.
What is happening now?
You can read the Policy and Action Plan documents below, or scroll down to learn about the key elements of both.Priority areas and actions
Take a 'whole of organisation' approach to minimise harm from EGMs. This includes ensuring that Councillors and Council officers lead by example and that any of our actions aim to minimise harm from EGMs.
Actions
- Council will promote a range of non-gambling social, cultural and recreational opportunities in Darebin to promote active and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Council will ensure that the community is notified of all planning applications related to EGMs (including in neighbouring municipalities) and advise on opportunities for comment.
- Council will include any copies of all gaming-related submissions it makes on Council website.
- Council will support any local business or club that wishes to divest themselves of EGM through advice.
- Council will continue to block and filter internet accounts across its services to ensure computers are not being accessed for gambling activity by staff and community.
- Council will continue to source and maintain accurate data, information and research on poker machines and other forms of gambling for use in the development of policy, submissions, communications and as advocacy tools.
- Where possible, council will include gambling-related questions in relevant community surveys and consultations to inform future policy and program development.
- Where possible, council will participate in and/or support research undertaken by organisations on the determinants and impacts of gambling environments and gambling, and effective harm prevention and harm minimisation measures.
- Where possible, council will commission and contribute to research that will directly inform Council’s policy objectives.
Exercise the full extent of regulatory and legislative mandate to minimise harm from EGMs.
Actions
- Council will continue to ensure that all EGM operators adhere to the conditions in their planning permits and will advocate to the VCGLR if conditions are not being met.
- Council will continue to monitor regulation and legislation and their impacts at a federal, state and local level.
- Council will actively monitor and manage all EGM venue signage to ensure compliance with the Planning and Environment Act and the Gambling Regulations Act.
- Council will continue to ensure all new lease agreements, MOUs, partnership agreements, funding agreements, and other relevant agreements and internal policies align with this Policy.
Maintain strategic partnerships and undertake advocacy to minimise gambling harm in Darebin.
Actions
- Council will continue to seek reform to the Gambling Regulation Act to place greater regulation and restrictions on the gambling industry.
- Council will continue to actively inform and contribute to the advocacy of the local government peak bodies local gambling networks to generate local, sub-regional and regional advocacy strategies.
- Council will continue to foster robust partnerships and alliances with peak bodies, advocacy groups, support groups and local community organisations in minimising gambling harm in the community.
- Council will oppose any increase to the maximum municipal limit of EGMs or the inappropriate relocation of existing machines to areas of high social economic disadvantage as indicated in the SEIFA index of disadvantage.
- Council will continue to partner with organisations and groups to undertake initiatives aimed at minimising gambling harm.
Educate the community about the imbalance between EGMs harms and benefits. This is critical to ensure that community members have an informed perception of EGMs.
Actions
- Within the first 6 months of implementation of this policy, Council commits to using its best endeavours within business-as-usual resourcesto supporting all community groups, clubs, organisations, associations and businesses, especially those that are multilingual, to educate and inform them of the new changes included in this policy as well as assist them to fulfil their future obligations, in appropriate languages, throughthe implementation of the Action Plan.
- Council will raise staff awareness and understanding of the EGM Policy during induction and ongoing.
- Council will continue to raise awareness about gambling harm and promote gambling support services to the community through various communication channels.
- Council will annually publish key indicators describing the gambling environment in Darebin including gambling losses, EGM numbers, gambling prevalence and gambling venues.
- Council will continue to participate in the annual gambling harm awareness week campaign.
Dedicate resources and source funding to minimise harm from EGMs in the community.
Funding and Resourcing actions
- Council will support sporting clubs and seniors’ clubs to continue to divest themselves from reliance on EGM revenue.
- Council will continue to fund and seek external funding for a range of non-gambling social, cultural and recreational programs.
- Council will continue to explore ways to support seniors’ groups to meet in non-EGM venues.
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