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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (8 August) . . Page.. 2577 ..

MR KAINE: It is a pity that the Canberra Girls Grammar students have left as they would have appreciated that. My question is, and I caution the minister because I would not want him to mislead the house: isn't it the case, Mr Smyth, that, contrary to what you and Mr Humphries told us yesterday, the information that you are to table in this place tomorrow has, in fact, been in your possession for some days? I repeat my caution about misleading the house.

MR SMYTH: As I told the house yesterday, I will table tomorrow the figures that Mr Kaine has been seeking. I have been waiting for copies of reports. Yes, I do now have them. I received them last night. I took them home and I have read them. The full detail will be tabled tomorrow.

MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. It has been in your possession for some time, Minister. I was afraid that I was going to have to comment that you were obviously waiting for the good fairy to deliver it at midnight tonight, in which case I was going to ask you, as a supplementary question: will you also ask the good fairy when she delivers it at midnight tonight to ensure that this report also includes financial details about the cash payments being made to AVESCO and information about the level of payment that would have to be made to that organisation in the event that the car race is not run for the full five years of the contract, which, I submit, now appears likely?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, there were some details there that I will take on notice and get the answers for the member.

Mr Robbie Waterhouse

MR RUGENDYKE: My question is to the gambling and racing minister, Mr Humphries. Minister, you will probably be aware from media reports that former bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse will have his licence to return to the track processed by the Thoroughbred Racing Board today. While this will enable Mr Waterhouse to operate at Rosehill races this weekend, it is my understanding that this will not ensure that the bookmaker-in-exile will be allowed to expand his network into the ACT. Has this matter been raised with you by the Gambling and Racing Commission, and what is the government's position on Mr Waterhouse having a potential presence in the ACT?

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Rugendyke for the question. The issue has not been raised with me by the Gambling and Racing Commission or anybody else. The implications, therefore, I cannot comment upon. My understanding-and I cannot verify this at the moment-of the arrangement is that, despite moves towards portability and reciprocity between different states' gambling arrangements, particularly licensing arrangements, it is not automatically the case that a bookmaker in New South Wales has the right to practise in the ACT. I think that a separate licence has to be applied for.

There is a process under way at the moment to review the arrangements for bookmaking. I have had representations, for example, that some requirements in the ACT are more stringent than those that apply in other parts of Australia, particularly in New South Wales.

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