Page 4498 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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MR LAMONT: My understanding is that the reason this legislation has been required and requested by ACTTAB is to ensure that if Tabcorp does proceed earlier or anywhere - - -
Mrs Carnell: Have they indicated that they will, ever?
MR LAMONT: They have indicated that they will, that it is their desire to cut their arrangements.
Mr De Domenico: When?
MR LAMONT: If you would just wait. It is their desire to grow the opportunity for punting during these types of meetings, and I have been over that. I will give you any commitment you wish that the only occasions when this authority will be used will be those occasions where Tabcorp does alter those returns.
Mr De Domenico: Tell us how we could disallow it. Explain how we can disallow it.
MR LAMONT: Because you will find that Tabcorp, as far as I have been advised, would be saying that on this series of meetings over this month or this week or next week or next month they will be undertaking this course of action. This action, once advised to me, will give me the authority to issue the disallowable instrument, with a copy to be circulated to the MLAs upon signing, not upon tabling, and for the matter to be disallowed during the sitting period, if that is the case.
Mr De Domenico: What if the Assembly is not going to sit until April and you get advice of this in January? When are we going to disallow it?
MR LAMONT: Obviously, in April.
Mr De Domenico: It does not make any difference because you cannot give the money back.
MR LAMONT: I missed that interjection.
Mr De Domenico: If we disallow in April, are you going to return the money that you have already not distributed to the RDF if we allow these amendments through?
MR LAMONT: No, because what would happen in those circumstances, Ms Szuty, is that you would find that the effect of that would fall, in my view, unequally on the percentage that would be taken from the TAB by the Government. The people of the ACT would be affected by such a proposition. What it is about is quite clearly saying that, to remain linked and for the racing clubs to gain the benefit, we need to be able to follow the dividends that are proposed by Tabcorp. If we do not do that, Ms Szuty, it operates to the disadvantage of the ACT racing clubs. What I am saying, Ms Szuty, is quite clearly that, where that occurs in that commercial sense, the effect of that should fall equally on the distribution arrangements that are currently provided.
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