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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (20 May) . . Page.. 419 ..

MR QUINLAN (4.05): Surprisingly, Mr Speaker, I rise to support the motion. I want to thank Mr Moore for his compliment in relation to club administration, but it was not me alone. We have a board of nine that runs the Canberra Labor Club group, and there are other boards that run other clubs that might support us. Anyway, thanks for including me in that.

This inquiry was supported and fostered by Labor last year, although rejected in this Assembly, and I know from direct contact with people involved then that it was born of genuine concern regarding the impact of gambling. I had some very earnest and long discussions with some of the members of the Labor Caucus at the time, let me tell you.

Ms Carnell: So why do you not get all of your clubs to stop advertising? You would not advertise.

Mr Moore: If you are really concerned, will you wind down the Labor Club? Come off it!

MR QUINLAN: That is a stupid thing to say. There are many activities in this society that bring people harm and that still must be advertised and whatever. You just take compensating measures. You do not - - -

Ms Carnell: You just made the point that you cared about it.

MR QUINLAN: You are an abolitionist, are you? There is the potential for a very large quantum leap to take the bulk of gambling out of community owned and regulated gaming. I think that is a big step, and it is a big step that warrants a thorough investigation before it is taken. Mr Moore referred to the inquiry to be conducted by the Allen Consulting Group, and it looks to me that that is all about competition and about justifying a planned move. Mr Moore did refer to the conflict of interest question and it is worth revisiting.

Mr Moore: The other way is for the Labor Party to withdraw its applications for machines until this comes back.

MR QUINLAN: Thank you, Michael.

Mr Moore: Will you do that?

MR QUINLAN: No.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR QUINLAN: The matter of conflict of interest is worth revisiting. It was debated about a year ago and comprehensively debunked at that point, and I refer to Hansard of 9 April 1997. From a personal perspective, let me say that I am quite proud of my role in the Canberra Labor Club group. It is success through good management, let me tell you.

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