Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 12 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 3706 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Well, if you do not get the Canberra Times, Mr Quinlan, that is your bad luck. The article is in the Canberra Times. I read the Canberra Times. I have seen what is being said about this and I do not express a view.

Mr Quinlan: It does not say what the concerns are.

MR HUMPHRIES: If you ask me for a view on whether there is any foundation for these concerns that led to a report being in the Canberra Times, I will say to you that I do not know because I am not aware, directly, of the basis for any such expressions of concern that might appear in the Canberra Times. Nor should I be, with respect, because I do not have a role to play in the decision about whether these particular sports betting licences get transferred to the new purchasers of those licences.

That is a role which Mr Quinlan, I am sure, is aware is played at the present time by the Bookmakers Licensing Committee and after 1 December will be played by the Gambling and Racing Commission. They, at arms length from the Government - quite properly, I think - have a decision to make about whether this transfer should occur and whether the people who are proposed to take on the sports betting licence or licences will be appropriate people to have that responsibility and to discharge the obligations inherent in that licence or licences.

Whether I have concerns or not, whether I am aware of those concerns or not, with great respect, is irrelevant. I am not the body considering the application to be made by the prospective new licensees. That is somebody else, and, quite properly, it is somebody else.

MR QUINLAN: I have a supplementary question. Well, "concerns" is the first word in your press release, actually. In the same media release the Treasurer stated that he is proposing to bring forward amendments to the Bookmakers Act. Can he enumerate the deficiencies or inadequacies in that Act that he is setting out to remedy, and does he not consider it appropriate that probity checks conducted on this very significant transfer should be subjected to the stronger standards proposed, whatever they might be?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, it is another question, rather than a supplementary question.

MR SPEAKER: I will allow it though.

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, Mr Speaker. I am happy to answer it. I have indicated in that press release that the Government has had a concern for some time that there should be a more extensive range of appropriate checks, not just on those who are the licensees, to ensure that they are fit and proper people to hold the licence, and those with whom they deal, but also on any others who might stand at some close proximity to the licence holders. The Government's concern is that there should be no capacity, within reason, to accuse a person who holds a licence of being influenced by improper parties or people who ought not to be involved in the business, say, of conducting sports betting.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .