Page 1908 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 14 June 1994
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Mr De Domenico also raised the spectre of sports betting. Mr De Domenico, as you would be aware, and as you and I have discussed, sports betting is available in the ACT now; but it is required to be undertaken on-course by a bookmaker. Whether or not we proceed to other forms of sports betting is yet to be determined. As you have indicated, there is great change around Australia in gaming and wagering generally. You will notice that in today's budget the Government has moved to place itself in the forefront of assessments of changes in the wagering and gaming industry by providing additional funds for the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing for persons to be engaged to look specifically at the reforms and the changes occurring in that industry. You can rest assured, Mr De Domenico, that, in regard to sports betting and wagering and gaming in general, we will be keeping a close eye on national trends, to ensure that the interests of this very important industry in the ACT are protected.
I am led to believe from an article in today's Financial Review that reviews of the taxation levels that apply to bookmakers' turnover are taking place around Australia. Again I indicate quite clearly that it is not in the community's interest, the bookmakers' interest or the Government's interest to see the industry in the ACT placed at a disadvantage in relation to those national changes. I give an undertaking, Mr De Domenico, quite clearly, in the terms that I have given it to the industry to date, that we will continually monitor the changes that are occurring in wagering and gaming around Australia, to ensure that the positions of the ACT bookmaker, the ACT Government and, inter alia, the public are protected.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
GAMING AND BETTING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994
Debate resumed from 19 May 1994, on motion by Mr Lamont:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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