Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Thursday, 24 June 2004) . . Page.. 2670 ..

must be taken before any increase occurs, I do not agree that the determination of the level of gaming machines should be devolved by this Assembly to the minister.

I also have amendments that insert additional harm minimisation measures recommended by the Gaming and Racing Commission. Despite the Assembly setting up an independent commission specifically to investigate harm minimisation and the proper regulation of gambling in the ACT and despite that commission believing there is sufficient evidence to recommend that these measures be introduced to reduce the harm caused by gambling, the government has so far refused to implement them.

In particular, the commission has recommended that ATMs and note acceptors be banned in poker machine premises, and the commission is currently preparing research on these very issues. It is a shame that this bill is being debated without the essential information—but I do not want to make it seem that I am not happy to have this debate. This debate has been a long time coming, but it is interesting that, when we finally get to have this debate about how we will regulate gaming and gaming machines in the ACT, the government comes forward and says, “But we’re doing all these other investigations.”

This means we will be seeing a series of amendments to the Gaming Machine Act, not just today, when we are debating it for the first time, but also in the future, when we see these reports come down. It is not the best way to move forward with this. If the government were committed to working through harm minimisation issues and to reforming gaming in the ACT, we would have seen this legislation a long time ago.

In conclusion, the ACT Democrats support the moves in this bill to include the regulation of electronic gaming machines, but we still believe that this government is lagging behind other jurisdictions in the control of gambling. We should be moving faster to ensure that the harm caused by problem gambling is minimised to the greatest extent.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (4.41), in reply: I thank members for their contributions. I am fairly certain that the detail of people’s attitude to the bill will come out in the detail stage. Let me just say that, in the overall context, this bill is about providing a balanced approach to the operation of poker machines in the ACT.

Clubs are more integrated into the community within the territory than anywhere in Australia other than a couple of country towns. Clubs provide a relatively safe, threat-free environment for their members to socialise in and to avail themselves of the amenities provided. I think it is important that clubs survive and continue to provide that service.

Sometimes it is difficult for people who are not regular club goers to appreciate what clubs do. Sometimes it is difficult for them to appreciate the contribution they make to so many of the community activities that take place and that we take for granted, all of which cost resources. I relate this particularly to cultural events, which provide a place for various communities to meet; to the provision of support for sport, particularly grassroots sport, which cannot command sponsorship or entrance fee revenue; and to activities provided for older people.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .