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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2686 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

but further information has been provided, Mr Speaker, and I table that information. I present the following paper:

Bookmaker's standing licence-Possible application by Mr Robbie Waterhouse-Answer to question without notice asked of Mr Humphries by Mr Rugendyke and taken on notice on 8 August 2001.

I ask that it be incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The paper read as follows:

I was asked yesterday by Dave Rugendyke MLA, whether Mr Robbie Waterhouse, a former New South Wales bookmaker closely associated with the "Fine Cotton" substitution scandal of the early 1980's, has made application for a bookmaker's standing licence in the ACT. It is understood that the New South Wales Thoroughbred Racing Board (TRB), the controlling body for thoroughbred racing in that State, has recently granted Mr Waterhouse a Bookmaker's licence.

I am advised by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission that Mr Waterhouse has not made an application in the ACT.

In the event that Mr Waterhouse or for that matter any other standing bookmaker who is licensed in another jurisdiction, were to apply for an ACT standing licence for thoroughbred racing, the procedure to be followed, in accordance with the provisions of the Bookmakers Act 1985 is outlined below.

The bookmaker would first have to obtain a written authorisation from the ACT Racing Club. The Racing Club is the controlling body for thoroughbred racing in the ACT, pursuant to the Racing Act 1999. Under the Rules of Racing of the ACT Racing Club, a bookmaker is obliged under Local Rule 84, among other things, to "have the required guarantee provided to the ACTRC and the (ACT Gambling and Racing) Commission form the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Limited".

Providing that the Registrar of Bookmakers has no reasonable grounds for believing that the applicant for a standing licence-

� has been found guilty of an offence against the Bookmakers Act or regulations or against a corresponding law;

� has, within the period of five years immediately preceding the date of the application, been found guilty in Australia of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more; or

� has failed to pay, in accordance with the Bookmakers Act, an amount due under that Act, the Registrar shall issue the standing licence.

It is understood that the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Limited declined to furnish Mr Waterhouse with the required guarantee with respect to his licence application to the NSW TRB. The TRB, however, accepted another form of guarantee from Mr Waterhouse and then granted the licence.

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