‘MACHINES GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY’: CLUBS BOSS

THE boss of the state’s peak body for community clubs has defended the role of poker machines, saying the revenue raised goes back into the community.

Doug Flockhart (pictured), chief executive of Clubs Queensland, said the surpluses generated by clubs was used to “deliver important and highly valued services in their communities”.

“When gaming machines were introduced to Queensland, it was initially for community clubs on the basis that the surpluses delivered would be filtered back to the community which the clubs support, and of course this has continued and grown to this day,” he said.

“Some larger clubs will contribute up to $1 million annually to all sorts of community needs, be it P and C associations, special schools and various sporting groups.

“It has done the job it was intended to do, which was simply and significantly contributing to the community and this accounts to around $850 million annually.”