Page 583 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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ACTTAB first raised the VITAB proposal with me on 22 July 1993 in a submission from its chief executive, Mr Philip Neck. I met with Mr Neck on 23 July 1993 and agreed that a process should be set in place to investigate the VITAB corporation and that the agreement should be referred to the ACT Treasury and to the ACT Government Solicitor for advice on its financial and legal security for the Territory. That is where I personally moved to make sure that it was safe. That was on 23 July 1993. So there you see it. This was the move to get it checked by higher authorities within the Government Service.
On 29 July 1993 I was advised that the ACT Treasury supported the proposal, subject to satisfactory responses to a number of questions they raised concerning the draft agreement. The Treasury subsequently advised that ACTTAB's responses to their questions were satisfactory. I understand that between 12 August and 13 September 1993 ACTTAB and VicTAB - the Victorian TAB - exchanged correspondence and held several meetings concerning VITAB's participation in the superTAB pool. On 10 September 1993 - and this is a very important point - a meeting was held between the executive directors of ACTTAB and the Victorian TAB, Messrs Neck and Walker, and two of VITAB's directors, Messrs Kolomanski and McMahon. I understand that as a result of this meeting agreement was reached for VITAB to participate in the superTAB pool. Let us not lose that. There was a meeting between VicTAB, ACTTAB and two people from VITAB, and as a result of that meeting agreement was reached for VITAB to participate in the superTAB pool.
During the first half of October there were various discussions and exchanges of correspondence between the ACT Government Solicitor, ACTTAB and ACTTAB's solicitors. During that process the draft agreement was progressively refined to meet the requirements of the Territory - all about making it safe. On 19 October 1993 the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning provided a brief advising that the agreement had been developed to the satisfaction of both the ACT Treasury and the Government Solicitor's Office and recommending - recommending to me - that I agree to ACTTAB signing the agreement. I tabled that advice, as all members would appreciate, on 2 March 1994.
On 22 October 1993 I gave my approval to ACTTAB entering into the arrangement with VITAB - that is, the approval which is mentioned in the letter of 22 October 1994, pursuant to section 7(1)(d) of the Betting (Totalizator Administration) Act 1964. That is the one, Mrs Carnell, that you would remember you played a little game with. ACTTAB's agreement with VITAB was announced at a press conference held on 8 November 1993. On 31 January 1994 the Victorian TAB gave formal notice to ACTTAB that it was terminating its link with the ACTTAB. This followed discussions on this matter between ACTTAB and VITAB earlier in January. At no time has VicTAB ever given reasons for the termination. Madam Speaker, these are the facts.
There are a number of key issues arising from these events which also require some comment. Firstly, the representatives of ACTTAB and VITAB clearly had an understanding on the basis of meetings and correspondence with VicTAB that VITAB could gain access to the Victorian pool.
Mrs Carnell: Table it.
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