Page 3942 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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those sorts of things. There is a written undertaking as part of the contract stating that VITAB will not offer inducements. That is part of the contract, according to my advice. I am also advised that if - - -
Mr Kaine: What is the inducement? What is the percentage they are going to get?
MR BERRY: Are you going to listen? I am also advised that if VITAB ignores this the TAB industry would withdraw support - race lists, odds, et cetera. So, there is not much difference, in terms of where punters go, as between VITAB and the Northern Territory or Western Australia. If you have a telephone betting account you can ring up and put your bets on there. There is no difference. What is to stop ACT punters from going to Western Australia?
Mr De Domenico: Nothing.
MR BERRY: Indeed. Is there anything wrong with that?
Mr Kaine: Why would they want to go to Vanuatu?
MR BERRY: There you go. You have to look at the big picture, and the Liberals never do that. VITAB received the second licence - the second licence, not the first - and whoever provides the support services would make no difference. The possibilities for ACT punters are endless in the Australian context. You can ring whom you like and put on a bet, the same as it is possible for people all over the country to put a bet on in the ACT. That is what punters do when they are playing the odds.
MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I must say, Minister, that I am not satisfied with your answer.
Mr Berry: I do not expect you to be. You are meant never to be satisfied. You were born that way.
MR KAINE: You seem to be happy, the Treasury is happy, VITAB is happy, but I am not. So that I can be happy too, so that I can join the big happy club, will you table a copy of this contract so that we can all see what it says?
MR BERRY: I am a bit reluctant to go around tabling contracts.
Mr Kaine: I bet you are.
MR BERRY: No, no. It is a commercial contract. I am prepared to look at it, but I am not going to give you a commitment to table it. I will have a look at the issue. In terms of making you happy, I am not going to try to do that because you were born to be unhappy.
Ms Follett: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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