Page 4497 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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Mr De Domenico: You need to calm down and try to explain to us why we should accept this piece of legislation.
MR LAMONT: I get upset when the Opposition spokesperson shows such a fundamental naivety about this matter. What I am clearly saying to you, Mr De Domenico, is that, if Tabcorp decide that for the Ballarat trots for the next month they will increase the distribution to the punters by 5 per cent, and we say that we are not going to do that, it would mean that the link would not operate, the pool would not operate, and therefore the distribution to the clubs would, in effect, be zero for that race meeting. You would not be able to attract a sufficiently large pool to attract punters to use ACTTAB. If you want an example of that, Ms Szuty, it was quite clear when we were finalising the arrangements with Victoria, in the first two weeks of August. It was quite clearly and demonstrably shown, even in comments made by Mr De Domenico.
This series of amendments by Mr De Domenico do not go to the question of my authority to issue the instrument. What they go to, Ms Szuty, is not protecting the interests of ACTTAB. They do not go to the question of my authority to issue the instrument; they go to one simple matter - a stunt. I say that it is a stunt, for a simple reason. I have the authority to do much of what is proposed in this legislation, as you have already pointed out; but what I have determined to do, to give effect to the desire of ACTTAB to remain linked in the interests of racing and punting in the ACT, is to ensure that this process is put into place as outlined in these amendments, to ensure that there is not able to be a charge such as the one attempted to be levelled by these two opposite.
It is our fervent hope, and it is most certainly in a commercial sense the hope of the TAB, that we are successful in the commercial venture of trying to attract new punters, bigger punters, to those mid-week race meetings, where we currently do not have a turnover that is deemed to be appropriate. That is why Tabcorp is doing this - trying to grow the size of their turnover.
Mrs Carnell: Are they doing it? We were told by your briefing people that there had been no indication that they were, David.
MR LAMONT: My briefing people told you as well that, because this next two weeks will be the last two weeks of legislation preparation in the ACT until probably April next year, we needed to consider what happens between now and April next year, if Tabcorp have indicated that they propose early in the new year, at the latest, to become involved in this type of activity.
Mrs Carnell: That was not the case, David. This is the whole hassle.
MR LAMONT: That most certainly is the position as it has been put to me by ACTTAB.
Mrs Carnell: That changes the whole thing. Quite seriously, they told us that there was no proposition at all.
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