Page 1990 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 June 1994
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Madam Speaker, I consider Mr Humphries's actions regrettable in pursuing Mr Berry's actions in the way that he did. Nevertheless, as Professor Pearce states, it was appropriate for him to comment on Mr Berry's responsibility or accountability for what did arise in this matter according to the terms of reference for the inquiry that I referred to earlier.
Madam Speaker, I wish to commend Professor Pearce for the way in which he has constructed his report. While the contents of the report present a distressing narrative about the sequence of events which led to the signing of the ACTTAB-VITAB agreement, they explain the sequence of events very well, which enables readers of the report to understand it very well indeed. I will provide for members of this Assembly some commentary on the sequence of events, as I see them, before I turn to the report's findings and conclusions. I was pleased, Madam Speaker, that Professor Pearce felt it unnecessary to summon people to attend the board of inquiry proceedings, feeling, as he did, that all the information he needed to arrive at his findings and conclusions was forthcoming. I was also encouraged that goodwill towards the inquiry was evidenced by the number of people who provided submissions and who appeared in person at both public and private hearings.
I was also interested in Professor Pearce's discussion of the totalisator industry in Australia and the initial rationale for the push for legalised off-course TABs. I noted that the Chief Minister also referred to this background information in her remarks. I quote from paragraph 14 of the report:
The push for legalised off-course TABs was supported particularly by the racing industry and one group in South Australia, the South Australian Off Course Totalisator Committee, set out their reasons for supporting the introduction of a TAB in that State:
Our purpose in seeking a legalised off course totalisator is not to encourage betting, but to divert some at least of the existing illegal traffic into channels where it can be controlled; and from which profits can be used for the good of the community and the racing industry.
This statement provides a useful setting of the scene for the further discussion which follows in Professor Pearce's report.
Madam Speaker, I will now discuss some of the unfortunate consequences of the signing of the ACTTAB-VITAB contract. A lengthy section of the report concerns the entry into the agreement with VITAB. Significantly, on 1 July 1993 a confidentiality agreement was faxed by Mr Kolomanski of VITAB to Mr Neck, the chief executive officer of ACTTAB, for execution. Again, the Chief Minister referred to this particular confidentiality agreement in her remarks. Mr Neck discussed this agreement with Mr Williams as to whether it should be signed. Mr Williams was the chair of the ACTTAB board.
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