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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (25 March) . . Page.. 811 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

As to the proposed Gaming and Racing Commission, the committee first of all believes that it is timely to establish such a commission, and we believe that there is a wide range of functions that that commission should become responsible for. We do not, however, agree with the model presented by the Government in its Bill because the first prerequisite is that such a commission should be independent of government. We believe that the model put forward by the Government in their draft Bill makes it a captive of government rather than independent of it.

We have made a number of recommendations about how the Bill, in our opinion, should be amended. They include basic matters like changing the name to call it what it truly is, a gambling and racing commission, to reflect the reality rather than some euphemism about gambling and gaming. We propose a reconstitution of the board to ensure that it is independent. We are proposing some additions to and deletions from the functions of the commission. For example, we do not believe that a commission responsible for licensing, monitoring and control ought to be responsible also for developing and fostering gambling. Yet the current terms of reference for the board would give them those functions as well. We are proposing the establishment of a community reference group to advise the commission and the Government on gambling matters. We are also proposing that there should be provision for a complaints mechanism built into the Act, with the onus placed on the commission to deal with complaints.

So we have dealt with the three matters that were referred to us: The social and economic impacts of gambling, the Allen report, which was referred to us during our inquiry, and, finally, what the Government calls the Gaming and Racing Commission Bill, which we suggest should be retitled.

I do not propose at this stage, Mr Speaker, to go into any great detail about those matters. The report, I think, speaks for itself. Other members of the committee no doubt will wish to comment on these matters and perhaps other aspects of the committee's work and its recommendations that I have not referred to.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of a large number of people, both in the ACT and outside of it, in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, who contributed enormously to our understanding of a myriad of issues relating to gambling and all of its aspects. I must also acknowledge the professionalism and the commitment of our committee secretaries, originally Bill Symington, more recently Fiona Clapin, and Kim Blackburn who also assisted materially in achieving the committee's outcomes through her administrative support role.

Finally, I want to record my appreciation for the sterling work of the committee members, Kerrie Tucker, Dave Rugendyke and Bill Wood. They truly worked together as a team and for me it was a great pleasure to work with them all. Mr Speaker, I believe this to be a valuable report dedicated to the public interest, and I commend it to the Assembly and to the Government.

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