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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2455 ..

MS TUCKER

This bill enables the gambling commission, which the Assembly has charged with the job of doing so, to enforce the regulations in this regard. We know that the gambling commission has already decided, while it is forced to issue a licence, not to issue poker machines. Its decision may be appealed against; I am not sure about that. This bill puts the Gambling and Racing Commission in a situation which is clearer and less inconsistent.

I guess we could now see the Labor and Liberal parties saying to the Gambling and Racing Commission, "We do not like the fact that you have the power to say that you are not going to issue licences, so we will take it away from you as well."That would be an interesting debate. That is really what everyone in this place except Ms Dundas needs to do next if they want to be consistent with what they are saying today, because the Gambling and Racing Commission has taken that action and made that decision at this point.

I do not think there is anything else I need to say in response, except that I do believe that we need to reaffirm the role of the Gambling and Racing Commission and to restate, once again, that gambling-poker machines in particular-is a very serious issue. You have no idea at all of what the impact would be of having poker machines at these facilities. You have not provided any evidence, which is extremely disappointing.

I also believe that debates like this one do nothing for this Assembly. I have heard members say here that most people in the community do not think that this is a problem. I do not think that can be said. This is about public policy; it is about members being consistent with statements they have made here in the past. I am very disappointed with this response.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted-

	Ayes 2  		Noes 13

Ms Dundas    		Mr Berry  	Ms MacDonald
Ms Tucker     		Mrs Burke  	Mr Pratt
      			Mr Corbell  	Mr Quinlan
         		Mr Cornwell  	Mr Smyth
       			Mrs Cross  	Mr Stanhope
      			Ms Gallagher  	Mr Stefaniak
     			Mr Hargreaves  

Question so resolved in the negative.

Vietnamese community in the Philippines

MS MacDONALD

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