Page 3524 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
That is one of the problems with Ms Follett's proposed amendment to this Act; there has been no consultation with the clubs in that regard. Until such consultation does occur, we will be opposing that amendment.
The final component of this Bill involves an increase from three to 10 in the maximum number of class B gaming machines that may be installed in a hotel that has 12 or more accommodation rooms. Generally speaking, class B machines are draw poker machines. The licensing authorities will retain their general power to ensure that these machines are installed in concentrations and locations that do not interfere with the rights of other patrons.
In conclusion, Mr Speaker, let me say that this is a model budget Bill. It redresses longstanding inequities in the incidence of tax as between small and large clubs, and for that I congratulate the Attorney. It also brings the overall tax rate up to the level that currently applies to clubs in New South Wales. For the whole of the last 14 years the ACT gaming machine tax level has been below that of New South Wales. The increase to be brought about by this Bill is the culmination of a series of progressive increases. Nobody likes tax hikes; but this is a very modest one, overall, and it has the unique distinction of allowing most clubs to pay less tax.
DR KINLOCH (11.12): Mr Speaker, as one who has had a very long association with Gamblers Anonymous and as a co-founder of the National Association of Gambling Studies and an associated body trying to help compulsive gamblers, I would like to make some comments on this Bill. I wish neither to oppose it nor to support it but to comment on it. I wish to agree with several of Mr Wood's comments. I would indeed worry about the levels of loss which $1 and $2 machines will encourage. It is not difficult on 20c machines with multiple plays, to lose $50, $60, $70 in a relatively short time. Think what that would be in the case of $1 and $2 machines, especially if those are multiple play machines. At, let us say, five times $1 or five times $2, it would be $5 or $10 at one press of the button.
Some people can afford it and indeed can control it, but there are literally hundreds of compulsive gamblers in the ACT who will get themselves into serious difficulty. I very much regret the way this is going. I want to do something positive about it and I would ask that the whole Assembly, all 17 of us, come back to the casino report, Mr Humphries' committee report. One crucial part of that report asks that this Assembly set up a special advisory counselling rehabilitation unit for compulsive gambling. I do ask that that go back on the agenda.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (11.13), in reply: Firstly, I thank the members generally for their support for the Government's Bill. I should respond to specific issues
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .