Page 2959 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Madam Speaker, there is one other matter which has not been referred to this afternoon but which has received some press attention. It is in relation to certain comments allegedly made by an official of the New South Wales Rugby League - in fact, it might even have been the Australian Rugby League, depending upon which hat he had on at the time - about allegations of fixing sporting events in New South Wales, particularly a rugby league game where members of a team bet against themselves.
Ms Szuty raised the matter of a medal points count that took place recently in New South Wales and some suggestion, currently being investigated by police, that there was advance knowledge and, therefore, there was an opportunity for - - -
Mr De Domenico: It was not the Mulrooney Medal, though, was it?
MR LAMONT: No, it was not. We were there and saw how professionally that was run. Madam Speaker, all I would like to say, in regard to the condemnation by one or two individuals of sports betting in general, is that before they point the finger at the introduction of a highly regulated sports betting proposal they should look at how they operate their own systems in their sport.
The difficulty associated with the medal count, if indeed there was any, does not arise from the fact that a sports betting facility operates in the Northern Territory. That is not the problem. The problem arises from a suggestion - it is no more than that - that from somewhere within that organisation advance knowledge was provided. A bookmaker fielding on a race in Canberra or even on a sports event in Canberra cannot be held responsible for the internal security arrangements for that type of process. If it becomes apparent that such breaches have occurred, under this legislation I can rule out or negate any betting on such a contingency. If there is a suggestion, as there was about the counting of points for a particular medal in New South Wales, that information was leaked and that is brought to my attention through the appropriate authorities, I will be able to determine that from that time on no wagers may be placed on the outcome in question. That is one of the essential strengths of this legislation. Such a determination by me would, at my request, be an instrument disallowable by this Assembly, and appropriately so. I would need to justify the reasons for taking such a course of action. I believe that that is the appropriate way - - -
Mr Kaine: It is in good old David's hands. Everything is okay. Do not worry.
MR LAMONT: That is an appropriate way to deal with it. Mr Kaine, it is not in my hands. At the end of the day it is now in yours.
Mr Kaine: I thought that that was what you were just telling us - "I can fix this and everything is okay".
MR LAMONT: No, Mr Kaine. In fact, I was saying how much confidence I had in you as a member of this Assembly, as I am sure that you have confidence in me - and I thank you for that - as demonstrated by virtue of your acceptance of this legislation this afternoon.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .