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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1100 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

My question on notice asks Mr Humphries to explain to this Assembly what considerations were taken into account when they came up with this nice round $10,000 figure. Did they take into account the cost of regulation of the industry, including the implementation of transparent and accountable reporting mechanisms; the cost of problem gambling; and the cost of research on the social impact of online sports betting? What is the projected cost of enforcement? What is the projected total cost of administering such a regulatory regime and of conducting the appropriate research over the 15-year life of the licences? Was the Gambling and Racing Commission consulted on setting the fee structure for these businesses? If so, what was the advice tendered by the commission? I have also asked about other factors and procedures that led to the fee being set at the current rate.

I hope the Assembly will be interested to see the answers to those questions. If we let this open up now and we get a whole lot more people coming in and paying that amount of money and we have not had the opportunity even to see how the Government came up with that amount, then I think we are failing as an Assembly to ensure that government is doing the job it should be doing. We have noticed in the past that government can be quite generous to business. Is this just another case of that?

I ask members to take a look at the Senate committee inquiry if they are interested in these matters. It is very interesting and worth while to take the time to do that, although I know everyone is really busy. If nothing else, look at the recommendations. I will put them on the record. The first recommendation reads:

(Extension of time granted)