ClubsNSW vows to work with Perrottet on pokies reform

A top ClubsNSW executive reached out to the NSW Premier to clear the air on the organisation’s stance on proposed poker machine reform after the agency sacked Josh Landis, it can be revealed.

The chairman of ClubsNSW has sought to assure Premier Dominic Perrottet that the industry body will work constructively with the government over proposed poker machine reforms.

The Daily Telegraph understands that George Peponis contacted Mr Perrottet’s office on Tuesday night to say that sacked CEO Josh Landis’ views about the Premier’s Catholic faith do not reflect the organisation’s position.

Mr Landis was sacked after being forced to apologise for invoking Mr Perrottet’s religion in the debate over cashless poker machines.

Responding to the sacking on Wednesday, a number of Clubs bosses called on the Perrottet government to release details of its proposed reform.

Broken Hill Musicians Club General Manager Michael Boland said he was “disappointed” that Mr Landis was sacked.

ClubsNSW chairman George Peponis

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“We need someone to lead the fight ... someone who can communicate with all sides of government and continue to push the industry’s case for gambling reform but in the right manner.

“I will never support the government controlling people and telling them how to spend their money.”

Campbelltown Catholic Club CEO Michael Lavorato.

Campbelltown Catholic Club CEO Michael Lavorato said clubs wanted more detail from the Perrottet government on its full gambling reform package.

Mr Perrottet said he would continue to work with ClubsNSW despite Mr Landis’ sacking.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said Mr Landis’ ousting was a chance to “to honestly reframe” the debate.

“I’m hoping that they will take counsel from what took place in relation to the Star, and what happened to the Star board and what happened to the Crown Board,” he said.

Gaming Minister Kevin Anderson declined to comment.

CLUBS BOSS BUNKERS DOWN AFTER SACKING

Sacked ClubsNSW boss Josh Landis has remained tight-lipped following his snap dismissal, with the former CEO bunkered down in his Dulwich Hill home the day after being fired.

The former ClubsNSW head said he had no comment to make when approached by The Daily Telegraph at his house on Wednesday, adding that he would speak “in due course” after being laid off.

It comes a day after the ClubsNSW board took action to sack him following Mr Landis’ comments to Nine Entertainment accusing Premier Dominic Perrottet of being driven by his “conservative Catholic gut” by pursuing a cashless gaming card.

Former ClubsNSW boss Josh Landis on Wednesday said he would speak “in due course”. Picture: Tim Hunter

Hours after Mr Landis issued an unreserved apology for his comments, the Board of Clubs NSW released a statement saying that the CEO’s employment was ended “with immediate effect”.

“ClubsNSW has met [Tuesday] to discuss the comments made by CEO Josh Landis yesterday.

After careful consideration, the Board has made the decision to end Mr Landis’ employment with ClubsNSW with immediate effect,” the statement said.

“The Board acknowledges Josh Landis’ exemplary service to the industry over more than 15 years through some very difficult times. We genuinely wish him all the best on his future endeavours.” Mr Landis was contacted for comment.

Earlier on Tuesday, ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis “unreservedly” apologised to Dominic Perrottet, after accusing the Premier’s campaign for pokies reform of being motivated by his “conservative Catholic gut”.

Mr Landis, in a statement shortly after midday Tuesday, said he wanted to “unreservedly apologise” to the Premier after his comments, published by Nine media.

Clubs NSW CEO Josh Landis accused the Premier of making his decisions based on his religious beliefs. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The comments were made during a phone call with a journalist late yesterday afternoon, who asked why I believe the Premier is so insistent on introducing a mandatory cashless system and other gaming reforms,” he said.

“I want to make it clear that in answering the question I misspoke and should not have referred to the Premier’s faith.”

He added it was “not a premeditated comment or an intentional attack on the Premier personally, rather it was a poor attempt to explain that there is a lack of evidence for the policy and the Premier is a moral person who intrinsically wants to help those who are causing themselves harm”.

Mr Landis said he had contacted the Premier on Tuesday morning to personally apologise.

It comes as a growing list of MPs demand the resignation of the ClubsNSW CEO, including independents Helen Dalton and Alex Greenwich.

Mr Greenwich echoed earlier comments demanding Mr Landis’ resignation when talking to the press on Tuesday.

“Clubs have an important role to play in our society. But while Josh Landis is heading up ClubsNSW, that is doing clubs across the state no favours whatsoever,” he said.

“What we need to stop is … personal attacks and threats and intimidation coming from Josh Landis and I believe that will only end when he goes.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the remark was “offensive” to all people of faith. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Seb Haggett

The influential crossbencher also said his support for a minority government would be “absolutely” conditional on the introduction of a statewide cashless gaming card, while criticising Labor’s current plans for a trial of cashless gaming cards on 500 machines.

“Labor’s plan currently is completely insufficient … I am open to negotiating with my crossbench colleagues and both major parties … Critical to that will be how serious they take the harm that has been caused in the state from problem gambling,” he said.

Labor leader Chris Minns also took aim at the CEO, saying there was “no place” for his comments.

“I don’t think there’s any place for that kind of sectarian and discriminatory language in NSW politics,” he said.

“I frankly haven’t heard anything like this for decades inside our political system and our political conversation.

“There’s no place for that in NSW politics, and we shouldn’t be introducing it right now.”

DON’T ATTACK MY FAITH: DOM’S FURY AT ‘CATHOLIC GUT’ REMARK

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has hit back at claims his support for the cashless gaming scheme is motivated by his “conservative Catholic gut”.

On Tuesday, it was reported ClubsNSW chief executive Josh Landis accused the premier of standing by his cashless poker machine plan because of his religious beliefs.

“The premier has very little understanding of this issue, and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut,” Mr Landis told Nine media.

“He’s going to struggle because he can’t satisfy everybody. I think it’s fair to say that the premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut rather than based on evidence,” Landis was quoted by Nine media.

Mr Perrottet slammed the comments on Tuesday morning, labelling them “offensive” and an “attack” on people of faith.

“The first point I’d make is that’s untrue,” Mr Perrottet told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

NSW Premier Dom Perrottet hit back at ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis. Picture: 2GB

“The decision that I’ve made and the views that I have in relation to gaming in NSW is not informed by the fact that I’m Catholic, it’s because I believe that this is the right thing to do.

“I think it’s completely wrong for the CEO of ClubsNSW to say that this is a matter or part of my Catholic faith and I would say that that’s offensive, not to me, but to people of faith across NSW.”

The premier said his faith shouldn’t be targeted after he made political decisions.

“If you replace the word Catholic with Islamic, Jewish or Hindu, you’d be resigning before you got to work this morning,” he said.

“It’s not about faith and people shouldn’t attack people’s faith in relation to decision making.”

Mr Perrottet doubled down by saying the statement was not only an attack on him but an attack on all people of faith in the country.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with my faith and the CEO of ClubsNSW should reflect on that and realise that it’s not about faith and when he makes comments like that it’s not an attack on Catholics across NSW it’s an attack on every single person of faith in this country.”

Josh Landis’s position as CEO of ClubsNSW is beyond untenable and it’s time for him to go. I’ve had my policy disputes with the Premier on social reforms, but I would never attack him because of his faith.

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) January 30, 2023

NSW MP Alex Greenwich on Tuesday took to social media to say Landis’ position as the boss of ClubsNSW was “beyond untenable”.

“It’s time for him to go,” Greenwich tweeted.

“I’ve had my policy disputes with the premier on social reforms, but I would never attack him because of his faith”.

Last month, Landis said the industry was “committed to working together” with the government on achieving “cost-effective, workable solutions when it comes to gaming reform”.

“Naturally, clubs across the state are anxious to find out what the government’s plans are in relation to moving towards cashless gaming and we look forward to seeing the details of their proposal,” he said.

At the time, Perrottet, declared his MPs wouldn’t be “threatened” by the clubs industry weighing in on the election, despite fears mounting among his colleagues his stance on a cashless gaming card had created a powerful foe in the lead up to the March vote.