RSL ends two- up loophole
RSL officials have closed a loophole that would have allowed Townsville venues to host two- up on Anzac Day.
Legally, licensed venues must receive permission from an RSL subbranch to play the game on April 25 but Townsville RSL has refused to grant permission to venues.
A spokesman from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation said the law “does not specify that the approving sub- branch and the licensed premises must be in the same locality”, meaning any RSL could authorise two- up being played in pubs.
But after Gold Coast clubs exploited the rule last year, RSL officials modified their own guidelines around who could grant permissions, effectively closing the loophole.
North Queensland District RSL president Steve Sergeant said all RSLs now had an “understanding” that they could only grant permission to venues in their own area.
“That’s the reason we turned around and changed it,” he said. “Most of the Diggers will either be at an RSL or go home after the service.
“If they want to go outside it, on their heads be it.”
It comes after city pub owners called on the Townsville and Thuringowa RSLs to let them legally host two- up games this Saturday.
The Metropole, Commonwealth and Australian hotels were among those leading the charge, arguing that veterans should be allowed to play two- up wherever they liked and publicans should not have to stop them.
Mr Sergeant said permissions had been granted in areas where there was not a nearby RSL, such as Bushland Beach and Bohle.
“Pubs and clubs are going to want to hold two- up games of their own,” he said. “It’s always going to be a bone of contention.”
Tully RSL president Alan Corcoran said it was right that the RSL controlled where the game was played.
“Tradition is tradition – it’s always been played in RSLs on Anzac Day and that’s the way it should stay,” he said.
Townsville Vietnam War veteran Garry Hooper said two- up, a popular wartime game, had a unique place in Australia’s national character.
“I can’t see why anybody should not be able to play two- up on Anzac Day,” he said.
“In the days of old, it was played everywhere and anywhere.”
The legislation giving sub- branches the right to approve two- up games was introduced in 2012.
Fines of $ 22,700 apply to anyone conducting an unlawful game, while the players can be penalised $ 4554.