Community Support Fund - 2011-12 Total expenditure

Brief description

Established in 1991, the Community Support Fund (CSF) is a trust fund governed
by the _Gambling Regulation Act 2003_ to direct a portion of gaming revenues
back into the community.

In 2011 the CSF was transferred to the Department of Treasury and Finance
(DTF) as part of the machinery of government changes following the State
Government election held in November 2010.

The Fund receives 8.33 per cent of revenue from electronic gaming machines
located in Victorian hotels. This constitutes about 10 per cent of the
government’s revenue from electronic gaming machines. The majority of gaming
revenue is directed to other purposes, such as supporting hospitals and
charities in the health sector.

Each financial year, $45 million from this revenue is provided to the
Victorian Government’s drug strategy, as outlined in the legislation.

The legislation also provides for the payment of one day’s revenue from the
Community Support Fund to the Victorian Veterans Fund on 1 September each
year.

The Victorian Government then allocates the remaining funding to a range of
portfolio departments. Funded initiatives must be consistent with the purposes
of the legislation described below:


* programs to tackle problem gambling are the first call on the fund, including payment of amounts into the Responsible Gambling Fund*;
* drug education, treatment and rehabilitation;
* financial counselling and support for families in crisis;
* youth programs;
* sport and recreation;
* arts and tourism;
* advancement of the community as determined by the minister; and
* costs associated with administering the CSF.

The funds provided to departments are generally then used to provide grants to
a wide range of community-based organisations and councils, supporting them to
build strong and sustainable communities.

Any interest on funds held within the CSF is retained and distributed for the
community purposes set out in the legislation.

For more information in relation to the CSF see the ![PDF document](http://www
.dtf.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/dtf/dtfweb.nsf/9b2d42697a084eb0ca25715a0004d4
2b/e11356c5befa5d65ca257ab7001a29da/Body/0.AD6%21OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=g
if)[Community Support Fund fact sheet (174 KB
PDF)](http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/files/5583728d-d5fd-4ad7-a52a-a1cd0107251b
/CSF-Fact-Sheet-2011-12.pdf) | ![](http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/
dtf/dtfweb.nsf/9b2d42697a084eb0ca25715a0004d42b/e11356c5befa5d65ca257ab7001a29
da/Body/0.EAE%21OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)[(333 KB
DOC)](http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/files/aa64737c-99bd-418d-8dee-a1cd010731e8
/CSF-Fact-Sheet-2011-12-Word.doc)