Bill to Abolish the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024

May 7, 2024 — The Victorian government has introduced legislation that will abolish the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.

The functions of the Foundation will transfer to other parts of government as follows:

• client facing prevention, early intervention, treatment and support services, including Gambler’s Help, to the Department of Health, to enable better service integration with community health and clinical mental health expertise
• gambling harm awareness activities, including public campaigns, to the VGCCC, to build on their gambling harm minimisation focus
• policy, research and evaluation functions to the Department of Justice and Community Safety, including the Lived Experience Advisory Committee, to ensure the function can be performed across the portfolio.

Gambling harm prevention will continue to be funded through the Community Support Fund, which draws from revenue generated from pokies. This will be delivered through the newly established Gambling Harm Response Fund at the determination of the Minister.

The Bill also dissolves the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council and Liquor Control Advisory Council, to modernise the governance arrangements for casino, gambling and liquor engagement.

An updated stakeholder governance model will be established and will include people with lived experience of gambling- or alcohol-related harm, along with community and industry stakeholders.

The changes will occur after the Bill has been passed by the Victorian Parliament and received Royal Assent.

SEE: Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024

SOURCE: Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.