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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2687 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

It is considered unlikely that the NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative will change its position in the foreseeable future. Accordingly it not be possible for Mr Waterhouse to obtain the necessary authorisation from the ACT Racing Club, unless, of course, the ACT Racing Club amends its rules.

In the event that the ACT Racing Club sought to change a Local Rule that specifically relates to conditions under which bookmakers conduct business at the racecourse, it would be prudent for the ACT Racing Club to seek the views of the Gambling and Racing Commission before the rule was changed.

Significantly, however, the Legislative Assembly enacted the Race and Sports Bookmaking Act 2001 on 19 June 2001.

The Race and Sports Bookmaking Act supersedes the Bookmakers Act and creates a new regulatory framework. It is anticipated that the Race and Sports Bookmaking Act will commence on 1 September 2001.

Under the provisions of the Race and Sports Bookmaking Act the requirement for an apptic8nt to obtain an authorisation from a racing club is removed. This measure was implemented in accordance with National Competition Policy protocols.

Applicants for a race bookmaker's licence must apply directly to the Gambling and Racing Commission. The application must contain or be accompanied by an authorisation, signed by the applicant, for a police officer to make inquiries and to make a written report to the Commission about the character and any criminal record of the applicant. And, further, the Commission must not decide the application until the Commission has received and considered the police report.

It is considered that these arrangements, which will soon come into effect, are much more appropriate than the current regulatory regime on the basis that there will be a higher standard of probity required of race bookmakers than that which currently prevails.

The Commission, which has statutory responsibilities with respect to the promotion and protection of consumer protection, the minimisation of criminal or unethical activity and, more importantly, reduction of the risks and cost to the community, will have significantly improved controls over the issuance and regulatory oversight of bookmakers' licences.

Personal explanations

MR QUINLAN: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

MR SPEAKER: Please proceed.

MR QUINLAN: We just had an outburst by Mrs Burke about the words "condescending, bloody woman" recorded in Hansard against my name. She took it personally because she is half of the complement of women in this place. If you look at the relevant two pages of Hansard you will find that this happened when Mr Humphries was gratuitously advising us that we should not reveal details of public service contracts. If I mentioned anything about being condescending, it would have been to Mr Humphries in that mode, because there was a bit of byplay, as members will recall, yesterday. Let us open ourselves to the possibility that there has been a misprint. Just to

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