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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4105 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

That is something that I am very keen to see improve. I note significant improvements have been made in Housing's ability to keep records. Only the other day I was trying to find some material in relation to something that had occurred in 1993 and 1992. The record-keeping then was pretty appalling, under you lot. It has improved; it has improved greatly under the current Government. However, I appreciate comments such as those because it is important to ensure that record-keeping has improved; it is absolutely essential. That is certainly something that I, as Minister, will actively continue to pursue, Mr Corbell.

MR MOORE: My question, which is asked under standing order 116, is to Ms Tucker. It refers to orders of the day Nos 10 and 11 on the notice paper - her Gaming Machine (Amendment) Bill and the motion to appoint a gaming industry inquiry. Ms Tucker, why is it that you have not withdrawn or sought to have withdrawn your motion and your legislation, which are on the table, now that the Chief Minister has announced a voluntary code of practice on gambling?

MR SPEAKER: I will allow that question.

MS TUCKER: Thank you for that question, Mr Moore. I think it is an important question. I still have several main concerns about the growth of problem gambling in the ACT. It is primarily associated with poker machines, as you are no doubt aware. Lack of funding for education and prevention programs is also of grave concern, as is inadequate funding for counselling and community support services generally. The three main factors contributing to growth in gambling problems are - and this is well documented in research - access to gambling places, access to cash, and lack of education and prevention programs.

The measures which we are proposing and which do still sit on the notice paper mean that we want the Assembly to immediately establish an inquiry, involving all the stakeholders, into the task of developing an industry plan for gambling in the ACT and a moratorium on the issuing of new licences to remain in force until the inquiry has reported. We also envisage that the inquiry would consider limits on the number of licences and the number of gaming machines; extending licences to hotels and the casino within the context of an industry plan; the creation of an authority to regulate future growth and conduct in the industry; and provision for ongoing funding from gambling profits and/or taxes on research, education and prevention, counselling and community support services.

The legislation that we propose, which is basically taken from South Australia and which is still on the notice paper, is to do with labelling; licensees would be required to put warning labels on all poker machines, and warning notices near the entrance to each gaming area; there would be no cash facilities in gaming areas; licensees may not provide or allow provision of cash from automatic teller machines, EFTPOS facilities or any other facility for gaining cash or credit within a gaming area. The ACT does have the highest per capita expenditure on poker machines in Australia - over $1 billion annually.

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