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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (13 October) . . Page.. 3073 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

As to the specific issues of how many public comments were received and when we are expected to make a decision, I can take that on notice and provide it to Mr Corbell later.

MR CORBELL: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Can the Treasurer indicate what the criteria are, even in broad terms, for assessing the short-listed tenders?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I think it is best if I take that part of the question on notice as well. I can then give a comprehensive answer on all three of those matters.

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to Mr Humphries, with his responsibility for gaming. Could the Minister please advise the Assembly whether the Casino Surveillance Authority is aware of any problems that Casino Canberra encountered during the period in which the game known as Pai Gow was phased into operation? The problems I refer to concern the casino apparently being caught out by hardened Pai Gow players and, as a result, having to recruit staff with experience in dealing Pai Gow in illegal Sydney gaming houses to curb these stings.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I have to confess that I have only just mastered the fundamentals of games - not as a practitioner but as an observer - like poker and two-up. To overload me with another game which I have never even heard of is slightly unfair. I will have to take that question on notice. I hope to come back with a mastery of the fundamentals of Pai Gow and how it may have affected our ACT casino.

MR RUGENDYKE: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, could you also provide the Assembly at the earliest opportunity with a brief on the introduction and progress of Pai Gow at the casino; the nature of any problems encountered with Pai Gow; the action that was taken to overcome any identified problems; the location where operations staff were recruited to operate and oversee Pai Gow; information on whether these staff members were licensed according to the Casino Control Act and Casino Surveillance Authority requirements; and information on whether the staff recruited to operate Pai Gow since its introduction have been in accordance with Casino Surveillance Authority policy.

MR HUMPHRIES: You are asking that as a supplementary question?

MR SPEAKER: It should be on the notice paper, Minister.

MR HUMPHRIES: I think it should be on the notice paper, Mr Speaker. I will attempt to find the answers to all those questions and get back to Mr Rugendyke.

MR BERRY: My question is to the Minister for Education. Has the Minister accepted the guidelines recommended by his advisory council a couple of months ago for schools considering their future because of declining enrolments? Will he table those guidelines if they are in his possession? And will he table them today?

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