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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 829 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

(5) the adequacy of support services available for problem gamblers and related social and welfare services eg. financial counselling, the effectiveness of community awareness and educational programs relating to gambling, and community attitudes towards gambling;

(6) the impact of gambling on other social and economic activities such as sport and other forms of entertainment, business and retail activities, employment (employment directly and indirectly related to the gaming industry), tourism, and recreational and leisure expenditure figures including and excluding gaming expenditure; and

(7) the economic and social costs and benefits of an extension of gaming machines.

Mr Speaker, I am moving this motion today and seeking the support of the Assembly because I believe that a social and economic impact study is vital if we are to make an informed decision about the future of the gaming industry in the ACT. There is barely any information about the effect of gambling in the ACT, both socially and economically. We know how much we spend and how much revenue we get, but these alone do not provide a sound basis for making decisions. What we do know about gambling in the ACT is that the people of Canberra have become Australia's biggest gamblers. According to an article in the Bulletin magazine, we have won this auspicious - or inauspicious - title from New South Wales gamblers, who have held that record since the arrival of the First Fleet. This is why we have to tread very carefully and calmly on issues about gaming and gambling in the ACT. My proposal will ensure that this happens. It is not merely a stalling or delaying tactic, as the Greens would have us believe.

Decisions will have to be made. Other States have made them, albeit using a crash-through approach, without undertaking the necessary groundwork on which to base a sensible decision, and they are regretting that now. The study should be conducted by an independent researcher, to ensure that it produces a balanced report, despite all the vocal and competing interests in the gaming industry in the ACT. It is important that the study does not begin with either a pro- or anti-gambling bias, since the results must be objective, to ensure that any decisions made by the Assembly are made from a solid base of information. The study should provide objective research about the impact of gambling and the likely impact of changes, so that the Assembly can decide how to proceed, whether there is a problem or not, whether they should proceed to extend gambling or, indeed, pull back. We need all the current and potential social and economic costs and benefits before us.

The study should contain quantitative and qualitative research, to ensure a balanced approach. Some quantitative data already exists, such as data about demographics, industry structure and trends, and this needs to be collected and analysed. Other data will need to be found. Quantitative data is important because it informs factually about what gambling is related to and what effects it has. Quantitative data alone, however, will not

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