Mounties Praised for Community Contributions in NSW Parliament

Mr Roberts highlighted the importance of the club industry, and specifically the work of Mounties Group in its local community, following a failed bid by some NSW MPs to ban poker machines from being played on ANZAC Day.

Earlier this week, Independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, spearheaded the proposed amendment to the retail trading legislation, which would force clubs and pubs to close their gaming rooms on ANZAC Day. The attempted ban — which neither the NSW Government nor the Coalition supported — has since been described as a "political stunt" by Shadow Gaming Minister and Nationals MP Kevin Anderson.

“Licensed clubs are used as an easy target to attack, especially by those who hate fun, and that was never more obvious than yesterday,” Roberts said in his speech, referring to Greenwich’s failed proposal.

“Unlike casinos or pubs, every single dollar made by the Mounties Group is funnelled back into its community, contributing by providing leisure, entertainment, medical, health and wellbeing services.”

Roberts also made mention of the Mounties Group’s contribution of over $20 million in the 2023-24 financial year and stated that the club group is one of the best providers to local communities in NSW.

“It has over 250,000 members across 32 communities,” Roberts said.

“It's created 3000 jobs, served over three million guests, provided over 600 fitness classes. That's a lot of sweat and tears there.

“In terms of service to the community, the Mounties Group model sets the standard and I hope other groups in NSW look to this one as a benchmark.”

Roberts also emphasised the incredible work achieved by Mounties Care, the club group’s program that focuses on improving healthcare in its communities.

“Mounties Care has provided everything from general practice, allied health and specialist medicine through to fitness centres, retirement living, in-home care and mobility aids,” Roberts said.

“With an ageing population and an increasing emphasis being placed on patient care, it is an incredible and admirable feat that a community club is delivering such high-quality care to communities."

Roberts also made special mention of the Mounties CareFlight helicopter.

“In 2024 alone, it has undertaken so far 395 missions, with 260 people being transported by that helicopter,” Roberts said.

“Within three minutes of tasking, the Mounties CareFlight is in the air and an important valuable service of the people of New South Wales.”

Mounties Group currently operates 10 registered clubs in NSW in Sydney and on the Central Coast.