Page 2878 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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enable clubs with an innovative approach to attract more custom. Of course, from the ACT Government's point of view, that is a good thing because that means more revenue to the ACT Government's coffers.
Mr Speaker, I welcome this legislation. It has been long overdue. There has been extensive consultation not only with the Licensed Clubs Association, who represent, I might add, something like 95 per cent of clubs in the ACT, but also with other members of the industry who are not represented by that association. Whilst there have been some small concerns about having two clubs next door to each other, each of them having different pay-out rates, I think the majority of people in the industry are competitive and they are looking forward to seeing this introduced.
It will provide a better deal for the ACT consumer who, at the moment, quite frankly, is being ripped off by $1 coin machines and $2 coin machines which are limited and locked into legislation paying 87 per cent. As the manager of the Penrith Leagues Club said to me on one occasion, 87 per cent on a $1 machine is daylight robbery. So, as I said, the consumers shall certainly do well out of this. I am pleased to see that the Government has realised the importance of the time requirements of this legislation and has brought it on quickly in their program. I think all right-thinking people will support it.
DR KINLOCH (12.19): I should, as Mr Duby did, note an interest; I am a long-time member of the Canberra Workers Club and of our Ainslie neighbourhood club, the Ainslie Football Club. The latter club has a considerable percentage of older citizens, especially as it is across the street from the Goodwin Homes, and, of course, Ainslie as a suburb has a high percentage of people over 60. We should be aware especially of trying to be as fair and helpful as possible to those older age groups, especially because of their financial circumstances. I endorse what Mr Duby says about the need to be given equality of treatment with New South Wales clubs. It is not easy for someone in their 60s and 70s to seek the higher return, if that is what they are looking for. As Mr Duby has proposed it, why should not Canberra have similar circumstances?
I have a direct knowledge and personal interest in the matters raised in this Bill. The National Association of Gambling Studies has a particular interest in the clubs and the machines in the clubs. I am going to leave much unsaid about that and about the machines. I wish that they could be kept at the 5c, 10c and 20c level. The moment you get up to $1 and $2 levels, they truly, for some people, become a problem. I learnt from Lifeline recently that there has been a 68 per cent increase in their calls related to gambling difficulties. But I am not pursuing that today.
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