ClubsNSW boss Josh Landis’ ‘Catholic gut’ comments blasted by Dominic Perrottet
Perrottet said Landis’ comments were not appropriate to be made in modern society.
“I believe in a tolerant society, people of faith respect people who don’t have faith, and people who don’t have faith respect the views of people who do,” he told host Ben Fordham.
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis leaves NSW Parliament House after meeting with Premier Dominic Perrottet last year Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“It has absolutely nothing to do with my faith. And the CEO of Clubs NSW needs to reflect on that and realize that it’s not about faith.”
Just hours after the comments were made public, key independent Alex Greenwich called for Landis to resign.
Alex Greenwich. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“I have had my policy differences with the prime minister on social reforms, but I will never attack him because of his faith,” he said. “He takes a measured and evidence-based approach to reform and encourages robust debate.”
Greenwich, who has been a key proponent of the cashless gambling card and has made it clear that his support for Perrottet’s minority government is contingent on support for a cashless gambling card, said Landis has championed the transformation of community clubs into “mini-casinos”. “.
“[Landis] turned ClubsNSW into an NRA-style political operation and ignored the damning Crime Commission report which highlighted the extent of criminal activity occurring in clubs,” he said.
Senior cabinet minister Rob Stokes said Landis’ comments were “a cynical attempt to capitalize on the ABC’s attacks on the prime minister’s religion” in light of Monday night’s Four Corners episode which centered on Catholic Opus Dei schools, which Perrottet attended as a child.
Customer Services Victor Dominello said the Prime Minister had “acted bravely in the public interest in response to a damning Crime Commission report”.
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“Mr. Landis’ comments about the prime minister’s Catholic faith smack of desperation,” Dominello said. “He is clearly under a lot of pressure and is losing the public debate.
“The ClubsNSW chair and board should seriously consider these comments and whether they align with the values of their organisation.”
Landis told the masthead on Monday that the prime minister would struggle to achieve his proposed policy changes, which include the introduction of a cashless card to use when gambling, “because he can’t please everyone”.
“What he’s done is create hyper-anxiety among the industry and among people who go to clubs, and hyper-excitement among those who want reform,” Landis said.
Perrottet is finalizing the details of his long-promised policy, which has gained support from several senior ministers but has also raised concerns among others.
ClubsNSW on Monday announced a new gaming code of practice to come into effect in clubs from July 1, which will ban players if they show signs of problem gambling such as seeking credit, borrowing money or leaving children alone while playing poker machines.
More to come.
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