Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:27): Last week I had the opportunity to speak at the gaming management summit, hosted jointly by Community Clubs Victoria and the Club Managers’ Association of Australia. Held at the Mulgrave Country Club, one of our 43 account-based play trial venues, the summit focused on the practical realities facing club operators across our state. Clubs continue to play an important role in Victorian life. They employ local people, support junior sport and veterans programs and provide spaces where community can gather. In regional Victoria especially they often remain one of the few venues where social and community activity can take place. The summit brought together club managers and venue operators from across the state to discuss the practical pressures of their work. It gave them an opportunity to discuss several issues, including compliance, staffing challenges and the role of technology in supporting safer environments. They offered practical insights into how clubs operate today, which reinforced the need for reform to be both effective and workable. Supporting clubs and protecting patrons from harm must go together, and that is the approach we are applying to our landmark reforms. We are strengthening safeguards for patrons while working with venues to ensure reform is practical and can stand the test of time. The direction is clear: gaming in Victoria must operate responsibly, protect people from harm and support community wellbeing. We will continue to engage constructively on the next steps of our reforms.