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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 3423 ..

(Quorum formed)

MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

MR SPEAKER: I think it is appropriate that I draw members' attention to standing order 28. I thank those members who are in the chamber, but the fact is that each morning if a quorum is not present within five minutes of the bells having been rung the Assembly is adjourned.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (10.33): Mr Speaker, I present the Gaming and Racing Control Bill 1998, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MS CARNELL: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Bill introduces the Gaming and Racing Control Act 1998. In introducing this Bill, the Government accepts the view of the Select Committee on Gambling that the legislation should not be passed without full consultation with the committee.

This legislation creates the ACT Gaming and Racing Commission. Mr Speaker, the Government believes that the control and regulation of all gaming and racing activities in the ACT should be centralised in one agency, namely, the ACT Gaming and Racing Commission. This would facilitate open and responsive administration of the ACT gaming industry. The commission will be responsible for controlling and regulating all gaming, racing and betting activities in the ACT to ensure that they are conducted honestly, with integrity, and free from criminal influence. The commission will assume the responsibilities and functions of the Casino Surveillance Authority, which will cease to exist.

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