Reports indicate that John Barilaro, former New South Wales deputy premier, has been working behind the scenes for a new job, as chief executive of ClubsNSW.
But his chances faded following the results of an inquiry last week that his previous appointment to a cushy New York trade job had “all the trademarks of a ‘job for the boys.’”
As revealed in the inquiry, “Despite assurances from senior public servants and ministers that the appointment process was conducted by the public service under a merit-based process, it is clear that the process was flawed and that the executive was not at arm’s length from the process,” the inquiry chair, Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, said in the report, as reported by the Guardian Australia.
The vacancy was left by former ClubsNSW boss John Landis, recently ousted after making inflammatory comments about Premier Dominic Perrottet. He accused Perrottet of pushing cashless gaming in the state because of his “Catholic gut,” not due to objective evidence. A day later, Landis was out. He had held the role since 2020.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Barilaro then approached the ClubsNSW Chairman George Peponis and “other industry leaders” in a bid for their support in landing the job. But he found little backing due to his ouster from the cushy trade job.
The lobbyist group and gaming in general now face a major overhaul. Sources told the Herald the organization needs an impartial and independent leader who owes no favors.
“We don’t need a politician,” said one senior industry figure. “It actually needs to be someone who is an ambassador, a statesman. Because we’ve been through turmoil. This shouldn’t be about politics or political sides. It should be about people.”
Another unnamed senior industry figure urged the Clubs board to find someone “neutral” who can work well both with government and industry. “I don’t think it should be anyone tied to either side. It needs to be someone who can work progressively with both sides of politics and independents,” the source said. “Clubs need somebody fresh.”
Other potential candidates include Mark Condi, former CEO of Bankstown Sports, the second largest gaming club in Australia. Condi resigned the position last August after a decade of success at the top. During the pandemic, he turned the club into a temporary Covid-19 vaccine center.
“I’m passionate about the industry,” Condi told the newspaper. “I do think industry does need to change and work with government in coming up with solutions that work with both the clubs and the community. It will take the right person to be able to bring the club industry on board.”
Others being talked up for the tole include Restaurant and Catering Australia head Wes Lambert, who also advocated for the hospitality industry during pandemic lockdowns and in the aftermath.
Industry leaders remain concerned about the threat of mandatory cashless gaming, fear it could decimate revenues as the industry strives to rebound. That said, some of Sydney’s largest clubs see the juncture as an opportunity to do better.
The CEO is reportedly paid from $350,000 to $400,000 per year.
Meanwhile, NSW Labor plans to conduct a trial of 500 cashless gaming machines. Perrottet wants to make all poker machines in the state cashless within five years, and mandatory cashless gaming to be available across all venues by December 31, 2028.
The premier addressed industry concerns and said he would protect the interests of pubs and clubs that rely on pokie revenues to stay open. “Today we make a once in a lifetime change to create a better NSW,” he said. “We address the number one recommendation from the Crime Commission and we will end money laundering in pubs and clubs, while protecting jobs and supporting communities.
“We will also ensure people using poker machines receive more support, if they want it, to deal with problem gambling.
“’Pubs and clubs are the lifeblood of so many communities across NSW and I want them to thrive, continue to grow and be a place for fun and enjoyment for everyone. My government will walk with our pubs and clubs every step of the way on this transition.”
Other changes in the works: a buy-back program for up to 2,000 machines over five years. As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, new machines would feature a pre-set player limit of AU$500, and customer identification would be linked to a single bank account. Strict privacy protections would safeguard player data, permitting no access to personal information other than for law enforcement purposes.
“We’ve always said the path to cashless gaming should be a sensible one and recognize the difference between a big venue in the city and a small venue in the bush,” said Deputy Premier Paul Toole. “This package delivers on that. … We’ve set a destination, and this is a sensible road to get there.”
In related news, ClubsNSW has settled its lawsuit against former employee Troy Stolz, who is terminally ill. Stolz had sued his former employer for defamation and alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act. ClubsNSW sued him for breaching a confidentiality clause and criminal contempt.
The Clubs suit caused a public outcry, with former Crown casino mogul James Packer asking, “Who on earth sues a dying man?”
Stoltz suffers from esophageal and bone cancer.
