Page 3530 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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MR MOORE (11.31): I refer you to standing order 187, Mr Speaker. I move for reconsideration of the part of the Bill that refers to the $2 and $1 machines. I understand that that is clause 4, sub-clauses (a) and (b).
MR SPEAKER: I have not put the question yet, Mr Moore. I am not sure what you are trying to achieve here. The question is that the proposed new clause be agreed to. Those of that opinion say aye, to the contrary no. The noes have it.
Mr Berry: The ayes have it.
Mr Collaery: The noes have it.
MR SPEAKER: Ring the bells.
Ms Follett: You were a bit quick off the mark there. I would not have minded replying.
MR SPEAKER: I am sorry. Is it the wish of the Assembly to allow Ms Follett to speak on the matter?
Mr Collaery: Yes.
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (11.33): I thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Assembly. I would like to say at the outset that I am disappointed in the approach that Mr Collaery has taken on my amendment. I think that he is being unduly cautious. If he is proposing to consult with the clubs affected only at this late stage, then he really has a lot to learn about consulting. Also, he would have got a much better reception had he agreed to this amendment at this point, not at some later point. I think it illustrates a pretty pathetic grasp of your portfolio if you come into this chamber and say, in the case of an amendment like this, which is a minor amendment, that you need to go away and consider it for a bit of time. You have your departmental officers here and I would have thought that a relatively minor amendment like this could be considered on the floor of the Assembly, particularly as you had some notice of it.
Mr Speaker, as I said before, the 95 per cent that I am proposing is a maximum percentage . There is absolutely no compulsion on the clubs to adhere to that maximum. Indeed, at present they do not adhere to the maximum permissible pay-out, which is 90 per cent. So, I think Mr Collaery is being unduly cautious and quite out of keeping with his usual shooting from the hip style. I just find it, overall, a rather disappointing approach. As I said, it is an incentive, if you like, which has been used in New South Wales, apparently successfully, on the introduction of these higher denomination coins. I believe that once that introductory phase has been completed the New South Wales clubs in fact no longer use that higher pay-out ratio. So it is an incentive; it is an interim measure that has been used elsewhere with some success. As I say, I am very
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