Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [3.24 p.m.]: I move:

That this House notes:

(1) today is the deadline date Federal Independent Andrew Wilkie gave the Prime Minister to introduce a poker machine pre-commitment scheme or risk losing his support for her minority Government;

(2) calls on the Prime Minister to abandon her deal with Mr Wilkie, which will harm New South Wales clubs and;

(3) calls on the Leader of the Opposition to tell the people of New South Wales whether he supports a mandatory or voluntary pre-commitment scheme.

Only moments ago the Leader of the Opposition accused me of having no spine. That is a shame indeed. Where is the Labor Party's spine? Are Labor members protecting the many tens of thousands of workers in New South Wales clubs? Where is the member of Liverpool? Where are they at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, Blacktown Workers Club and places such as that all over New South Wales? I bet those opposite do not have the hide to go into their local clubs and to say, "I couldn't vote for the motion. I didn't want to support the club workers."

New South Wales relies on our clubs industry, which is symbolic in the history of this State. If it were not for the clubs industry we would have no junior sport, and we would have no Meals on Wheels and other community-based services. We all know the truth of the matter: A deal was done with the devil and today is D-day for the clubs. There is no room for the minority Federal Labor Government to move on this issue. The signed agreements, which have been placed in my hands, allow no room for manoeuvre. Unions across the nation have come out and said that if the deal goes ahead some 358,000 people will lose their jobs. There are 31 clubs in my electorate, including great clubs such as the Twin Towns Services Club headed by Rob Smith. I was general manager of a club for many years. I started work back in 1976 at Georges River Sailing Club, cleaning toilets and ashtrays. I know what it is like to do a bit of hard work—it is a pity those opposite do not know the meaning of the phrase.

The heart will be ripped out of the clubs industry. The 31 clubs in my electorate employ 1,130 people. I will relate a few facts about the Tweed Heads Bowls Club. Over the past five years it has paid wages in excess of $30 million and made payments to local suppliers totalling $37 million. The community benefited by some $3 million. The club paid tax to government of $17 million and its capital expenditure was around $9 million. So that club has reinvested in our local community to the tune of $98 million. This information was supplied to me by Peter Newell, the fine chairman of the board of ClubsNSW, and Anthony Ball, the chief executive officer. The combined commitment of clubs in the Tweed will drop by some $46 million, and many of them will close. Today I spoke to the chief executive officer of the Tweed Heads Bowls Club, Mr Ross Bailey. He is one of the most astute men I know, particularly when it comes to finance. He said, "Geoff, if this goes through this club will shut. All the bowls and all the community activities we do will stop. Our just over 100-odd staff will be out of a job."

Labor members have no commitment to club workers. They will not stand up for clubs in their local areas. The Leader of the Opposition talked about spine and protecting people's rights. Where does he stand on the clubs issue? Many of the people in the public gallery today will undoubtedly be members of clubs. There are around 90,000 people in Tweed shire—which encompasses part of your electorate, Mr Deputy-Speaker—but the 31 clubs have 140,000 members. Where are they going to go? As I said, it is not only the staff and the suppliers who will be deeply affected; it is the little old ladies, the poor pensioners. I spoke to five of them. They come to the club to play bingo. They do not gamble or drink. Where are they going to go?

I am sure that applies to many members on both sides of the House. It could be their aunty or their grandmother. They have worked their guts out for this State for many years—50, 60, 70 years or whatever it is—and through a deal with the devil, which starts today, the Federal Government is going to rip clubs apart. The Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, George Souris, said at the recent Council of Australian Governments meeting, "We will not be a part of this. This is crazy." I praise the Minister; he has been talking to the industry and he knows what the effect of this proposal will be. ClubsNSW is fighting this move and so are many other sporting groups in the community. We must stand together in this House and say that enough is enough. The clubs need our support even more than they did in 1996, when Labor tried to tax them. I led demonstrations outside this building at the time.

This Labor Opposition, like the Federal Labor Government, is so disconnected from local communities it does not know the difference between reality and fantasy. It will do anything to stay in power: bugger the good people of New South Wales, bugger all the club industry people; they do not count. But for members on this side they do count, from the little old ladies that play bingo to the people who play golf and bowls and those taking part in junior sport and other community activities such as scouting groups. We care about them. Our Minister said, "Enough is enough." We will not go silently into the night. This is about openness and transparency, and the problem created by a stupid Federal Government commitment.

Mr PAUL LYNCH (Liverpool) [3.31 p.m.]: I commence by acknowledging that this time the member for Tweed got rid of the spelling mistakes in his motion. That is an improvement on the last one he moved. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after "That " with a view to inserting instead:

this House notes:
(1) that after 16 years in opposition the Government refuses to debate State issues and considers itself an arm of the Federal Opposition, and not the Government of this State;

(2) that this is the second time this week that the Government has moved a motion to be accorded priority to debate a Federal issue; and

(3) that the alternative motion before the House dealt with important State Government issues such as conditions for police, teachers and nurses.

As the amendment suggests, this lot has been in Opposition for 16 years and one would have thought that within a few weeks we would be flooded with legislation and a serious discussion of State issues. What we have had is a series of discussions about Federal issues, the Government acting as the State arm of the Federal Opposition and no substantive work before this House. We had 32 speakers on a 52-word bill. We have the least prepared Government coming into office in the history of this State. It is an embarrassment to this institution; it is wasting the time of this House. It is an absolute disgrace and insult to this institution. I will be the only speaker for the Opposition in this debate. We refuse to waste any more time of this House on this motion. When members opposite are ready to deal with State issues let us know and we will come back to the podium.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! I call the member for Kiama and in doing so I congratulate him on his inaugural speech this morning.

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) [3.33 p.m.]: What an extraordinary performance from the member for Liverpool, who does not even have the guts to stay in the House and hear the response. He thinks this is about Federal politics. Has he walked into one of his local clubs in Liverpool and talked to the workers that his vote in this House will affect? Clearly he has not even talked to the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union about the 16,000 jobs that will be affected as a result of changes by Federal Labor. Is the member for Liverpool in this House today sticking up for those workers? Is he here supporting the jobs in his electorate? Where has he gone? He has disappeared. Like the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Parliament we seek him here, we seek him there, we seek him everywhere, but never is he found on the issue of clubs in this State.

[Interruption]

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The member for Kiama does not need further assistance. He is doing well. He will be heard in silence.

Mr GARETH WARD: I acknowledge the point made by the member for Tweed earlier when he talked about spinelessness. Members opposite did not even have the guts to stay and vote on this motion to be accorded priority. Instead they run out of the Chamber and are not prepared to stand up for clubs. Did we hear any substantive debate from the member for Liverpool about pre-commitment technology? No. Did we hear about the potential challenges from internet gambling? No. We heard nothing about the issue that has been raised today, which just goes to show what this lot is about. Those opposite are all about politics and spin and not about supporting the clubs of this State. I am going to get behind the clubs in my electorate that support community groups and sporting organisations, such as the Pride of Bomaderry Committee, which is hosted free of charge at the Bomaderry Bowling Club so that they can have community meetings. The member for the Tweed referred to State issues, so why did the member for Liverpool not talk about the grants and services that will not be available if the source of revenue dries up as a result of the technology that he wants to introduce?

We should ask Opposition members whether they support their Federal colleagues because the member for Liverpool did not outline that situation. Jenny Macklin went on the record in the Tasmanian Mercury and said the Federal Government will introduce this legislation whether the States want it or not. Is that the sort of consultation we can expect from a Federal Labor Government? Absolutely. It is not interested in the views of clubs and it is not even interested in the views of its union. It is interested only in pandering to an Independent to stay in government. This has nothing to do with community groups, sporting groups or the clubs themselves. This is just a vain attempt to stay in power to maintain a grubby deal that keeps this irresponsible and disreputable Labor Government in the Lodge in Canberra.

[Interruption]

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! I call the member for Maroubra to order.

Mr STUART AYRES (Penrith) [3.37 p.m.]: Mr Deputy-Speaker—

Mr Michael Daley: You recycled this motion the other day. Just use the same one; it is the same motion.

Mr STUART AYRES: Why don't you do something about it? You do not care about clubs or the funds that are required in communities and you do not care about community services.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! The member for Penrith and the member for Maroubra will direct their comments through the Chair.

Mr STUART AYRES: It is pretty clear that members opposite have completely walked away from their communities.

Mr Guy Zangari: Not in Fairfield, mate.

Mr STUART AYRES: It is fairly clear that the member for Fairfield has made no effort whatsoever to make any representations on behalf of his clubs. It seems fairly clear that the member for Liverpool has done the same thing. The member for Maroubra is walking away from clubs as well. I know that in the electorate of Penrith I will not walk away from the clubs that support the community that I am lucky enough and honoured to represent in this place, whether it be the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club, the Gaels Cultural and Sporting Club, the Leonay Golf Club or the Kingswood Bowling Club. All of these clubs provide services to the community. Every member of this House represents communities across the State and has clubs in their electorates that look after people in those communities. This is a State issue. Let us not be fooled by members opposite. This proposal will impact on New South Wales communities and clubs. It is time the people of New South Wales finally had a government that stood up for them and looked after them, and did not pander to people in Canberra who are trying to dictate what should take place in our local communities.

Some high and mighty power in Canberra is trying to keep the Federal Government together because it has barely enough votes to form a government. One person from Tasmania is holding the entire nation to ransom through his efforts to impose these conditions on clubs right across Australia, but in particular in New South Wales. Those provisions will strip money straight out of the pockets of local communities and local clubs. Think of a hockey club, a cricket club, a football club or a cultural club; if members think about a club in their area that is supported by a community club they will realise those local clubs are under threat. I guarantee every member that if the proposed legislation is passed in Canberra we will be inundated with letters from community groups that we are elected to represent asking us to oppose the legislation that will strip money out of local communities.

Members know what those organisations will ask for. After they have asked us to fight for them and we are unable to do that, they will ask for money. That will put pressure on our State budget because clubs will no longer be able to support local organisations—sporting clubs, cultural clubs veterans clubs, Legacy, Salvation Army, or St Vincent de Paul. Members can pick any community group in their electorate and they will find a licensed club supporting that group. That is why this is such a fundamental issue to every member of the Chamber. It is fundamental to every community group that is supported by a licensed club anywhere in the State.

We must send a clear message to Canberra that we do not want this kind of legislation. We do not want licensed clubs in our community dictated to as to how they spend their money. We want to make sure that they are able to support those community groups. We do not want to rip cash out of those clubs that are sending it to community groups. No-one on this side of the House would ignore this. No matter what we hear from the Opposition benches about this not being a State issue, it is very clear that every person in this House has a responsibility to support their local communities. If we do not, we will not only destroy those clubs but we will also destroy their ability to support those organisations in the areas we represent with such pride and, on top of that, we will ask the New South Wales Government to foot the bill.

Do we want to prioritise funding to those smaller clubs and organisations when we should be spending money on roads, hospitals, police, and infrastructure that may make the daily lives of families that little bit better? I know that representatives of the Kingswood Bowling Club would much rather support the members of the Kingswood Bowling Club than have to pay for the extension to the M4 East that members opposite did not manage to pay for in 16 years.

Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) [3.41 p.m.], in reply: Much of the day has been spent debating workers rights and the future of workers. Clearly this debate is about the rights of club workers, but it goes a bit further than that. It goes to the rights of the people of New South Wales: their right to enjoy their local club; their right to meet with their friends; their right to play sport; their right to be part of Rotary, Meals on Wheels and many other charitable organisations. The member for Liverpool is quick on pronunciation and quick to point things out but in speaking today he was unprepared and ill-informed. I find that a disgrace. He has many great clubs in the Liverpool area and he is unprepared. He does not have the spine to stand up for his clubs. Let him walk into his clubs tonight and say to them, "I did my best for you. You guys voted for me and I did my best for you in Parliament."

Once again I acknowledge Wayne Krelle, a great executive officer of ClubsNSW, in our gallery. I ask him to contact the clubs in Liverpool and let them know how their member behaved—ill-prepared, uninformed and unwilling to stand up for the workers. This is clearly a State issue. We are facing massive unemployment. We are facing a massive number of lost sporting arenas. There is not one charity in New South Wales that does not get some support from the club industry. The club industry is made up of fair, upstanding people. They believe in their local clubs. Clubs came together for people with a common interest—whether it be bowls, golf, music or whatever. Their secondary object is to support their local communities. Being a club manager for 27 years, I can tell you that as soon as there was a natural disaster in our town, as soon as somebody was diagnosed with cancer, as soon as somebody had some form of hardship, the first place they went to was the local club. Who was the first to put their hand in their pocket? It was the local club. That is why clubs need our support.

Even the Leader of Opposition Business in this place, the member for Maroubra, has been a club director—the Randwick Rugby Club—for many years. He knows. His general manager would have been telling him. Members opposite should hang their heads in shame. We talk about spine. Where are the Labor people today? A deal was done federally. It is D-Day with the devil to the detriment not only of the people of New South Wales but also of the people of Queensland and Victoria, and all over. Once again the Labor Party has shown it has no spine. It is all about staying in power to the detriment of our local people.

That is why I am proud to be on this side. We heard from the member for Kiama and from the member for Penrith. They are strong supporters of their local club industry and in turn their club industry supports them because those two members understand the local issues and support their local people. Everyone on this side does that, from the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, all the way down. Our Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing has a spine. He told the Council of Australian Governments that enough is enough and that we are not going to cop it. That is why this motion is a priority. I call on members opposite to pick up the phone and say to their Federal colleagues, "This is no good; get rid of it."

I challenge members opposite to bring this matter to a vote. They are full of wind; no substance whatsoever. What about the people of New South Wales? What about the people who voted for you—although there were not too many this time? They are turning their backs on those people. That is fundamentally wrong and they should stand up for their club industry. The club industry in New South Wales is unique and I am 100 per cent behind it.

Question—The the words stand—put.

The House divided.

Mr Anderson Mr Annesley Mr Aplin Mr Ayres Mr Baird Mr Barilaro Mr Bassett Mr Baumann Ms Berejiklian Mr Bromhead Mr Brookes Mr Cansdell Mr Casuscelli Mr Conolly Mr Constance Mr Cornwell Mrs Davies Mr Dominello Mr Doyle Mr Edwards Mr Elliott Mr Evans Mr Flowers Mr Fraser

Mr Gee Mr George Ms Gibbons Ms Goward Mr Grant Mr Hartcher Mr Hazzard Ms Hodgkinson Mr Holstein Mr Humphries Mr Issa Mr Kean Dr Lee Mr Notley-Smith Mr O'Dea Mr O'Farrell Mr Owen Mr Page Ms Parker Mr Patterson Mr Perrottet Mr Piccoli Mr Piper Mr Provest

Mr Roberts Mr Rohan Mr Rowell Mrs Sage Mr Sidoti Mrs Skinner Mr Smith Mr Souris Mr Speakman Mr Spence Mr Stokes Mr Stoner Mr Toole Mr Torbay Ms Upton Mr Ward Mr Webber Mr R. C. Williams Mrs Williams Tellers, Mr Maguire Mr J. D. Williams

Mr Barr Ms Burney Ms Burton Mr Daley Mr Furolo Ms Hay Ms Hornery

Mr Lalich Mr Lynch Dr McDonald Ms Mihailuk Mr Parker Mrs Perry Mr Rees

Mr Robertson Ms Tebbutt Ms Watson Mr Zangari Tellers, Mr Amery Mr Park

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): Order! Debate on the motion accorded priority having concluded, the House will now consider Government business.